Property february 2011
Winner of 9 publishing awards
Est. 2004, Issue 217
GAUTENG
decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate
Guest editor real estate Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance
style, quality, space
9 771810 469103
Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s first home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • Hout Bay: The truth behind the drama
11 0 0 2
& Health Spa
RSA R34.95 (incl Vat) Other countries R21.90 (excl Tax)\ Lombardy Estate and Health Spa, lombardyestate.co.za
lombardy estate
DECOR Pedersen + Lennard: furniture with a twist
7(&+12 /2*,&$/ .,7&+(16
Contents
36
FEBRUARY
45
14
PROPERTY DINNER We entertain in style at Punchinello’s in Fourways.
68
about her first home in Orange
SOCIETY Out and about with the beautiful people in Gauteng.
80
DECOR 15
21
21
HOT PROPERTY – HOT DECOR
69
Is the real-estate industry finally
Four SA designers recommend
recovering? Six industry experts
their must-have room accessory.
give us the low-down.
predictions for the housing market in 2011.
WIN A three-night stay at Coral
58
DESIGN HOT PROPERTY – HOT DESIGN
RESIDENTIAL Some key property investment opportunities, from Jeffreys Bay to the Strand to Dullstroom.
60
COMMERCIAL A new mall for Port Elizabeth, the future of retail developments,
colour, plus Italian furniture and
fabric range, artist Nicholas
for Limpopo.
environmentally friendly shelves.
Hlobo, plus Ronél Jordaan’s unique felt products.
GLASS ACT An eco-friendly Somerset West
36
HOT PROPERTY – HOT PLATE getaways, plus Chef Michael Broughton talks kitchens with us.
HOT PROPERTY – HOT STUFF
A Breede River mansion, premier South African art and antiques go under the hammer in February.
design world by storm with their
64
PROPERTY FUND Acquisitions, predictions and insight into South Africa’s
WATCH THIS SPACE
JSE-listed, R125-billion
Talking interior design with the
property sector.
best in the industry.
54
AUCTION
Luke Pedersen and James Lennard are taking the furniture
48
62
YOUNG GUNS
chic, pared-down creations.
page 40 for details.
31
of Auction Alliance, shares his
natural beauty and luxe hotels.
plus a new industrial park
Happening restaurants and
13
Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO
Supermodel Iman’s new home
Lombardy Estate & Health Spa. Turn to
13
THE ROCKY ROAD AHEAD
Diverse cultures, exotic flavours,
worth R45 000.
TRENDS 12
57
MALAYSIA
International Cape Town,
14
THE STATE OF SA REAL ESTATE
Why white is the hottest kitchen
home of steel and glass.
ON THE COVER
26
THE FINAL TOUCH
LUXURY 42
Grove, Johannesburg.
THE WORKHOUSE
66
GREEN BUILDING A Green Building Council African
Ogilvy Durban’s cutting-edge
Network is on the cards, students
new Durban warehouse combines
take green building to heart, plus
The most covetable items on the
history and future, thanks to
the Giba Gorge Environmental
shelf right now.
Egg Designs.
Precinct is launched.
LOST IN THE WOODS It’s had its controversy over the past few months, but Hout Bay is still an idyllic place to live, in an unmatchable setting.
REAL ESTATE 18
67
OFFSHORE Opportunities in Abu Dhabi, a
A SONGBIRD’S NEST
smart eco-city in Cyprus, and
Enigmatic jazz singer Simphiwe
why now is the time to buy
Dana shares her nostalgia
property in the UK countryside.
February 2011 | 1
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Property
Kwazulu-Natal Sales Charles Roets, Jenni McCallum
EDITORIAL Editor Sandy Welch sandy@medianova.co.za
Namibia Sales Mynard Slabbert
KwaZulu-Natal Bureau Chief Anne Schauffer anne@medianova.co.za
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Art Director Warren Uytenbogaardt warren@medianova.co.za
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Senior Marketing Coordinator Amanda Africa
Mid-Weight Designer Trudine Scannell
Marketing Intern Kehli Sauls
Senior Retoucher Tim Lake
PUBLISHED BY MEDIA NOVA (PTY) LTD
CONTRIBUTORS Tidi Benbenisti, Melanie Farrell, Jackie Gray, Rael Levitt, David Mullany, Joan Muller, Vicki Sleet, Ed Suter Photographers Ruvan Boshoff, Nick Boulton, Angela Buckland, Sally Chance, Anthony Friend, Sam Norval, Natalie Payne, Ed Suter PRINTING
Managing Director Tony Vaughan tony@medianova.co.za PA To Managing Director CherÊÊs O’Reilly cherees@medianova.co.za Associate Publisher (Namibia) Mynard Slabbert mynards@mweb.co.za Finance Manager Laetitia Bothma tish@medianova.co.za Credit Controller Dominique Bendix tish@medianova.co.za
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sales@medianova.co.za Group Sales Director Shanee Smart
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Receptionist Kashiefa Jacobs
Gauteng Sales Candice Bailey, Rui Barbosa, Anine Ehlers, Marc Lahoud, Musi Motsuenyane
Drivers Willem September (Western Cape) Joseph Khoza (Gauteng)
Nedbank Property Association Awards 2010: Winner – Mover & Shaker Award (Tony Vaughan) PICA Awards 2009: Winner – Special Award, Overall Publishing Excellence PICA Awards 2008: Winner – Consumer Magazines, Largely Free Distribution, and Highly Commended: Editorial Excellence, Public Interest Writer of the Year (Ed Suter) 20th SAB Environmentalist of the Year & Environmental Journalists of the Year Awards 2008: Winner – Merit Award, Print & Internet SAPOA Property Journalism Awards 2008: Winner – Best Property Publication, and Special Mention – Property Feature Journalist (Ed Suter) PICA Awards 2007: B2B – Publishing Excellence, Leisure Mondi Magazine Awards 2005: Winner – Foresight SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: Winner – Philip Tyler Trophy for Innovation in Magazine Publishing Brandhouse Media Owners Challenge Awards 2005:Winner – Innovation in Publishing SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: B2B – Highly Commended Mondi Magazine Awards 2004: Industry – Finalist Launch Edition: April 2004 WESTERN CAPE 3rd Floor, 33 Bree Street, Cape Town 8001 PO Box 50601, The Waterfront, Cape Town 8002; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)21 421 7891 GAUTENG 8th Floor, Fredman Towers, 13 Fredman Drive, Sandown, 2196 PO Box 785828, Sandton, 2146; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)11 884 2830 KWazulu-natal Ground Floor, 55 Gladys Mazibuko Road, Berea 4001 Postnet Suite 329, Private Bag X10, Musgrave 4062; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)31 208 5278 Namibia Phone +264 (0)61 248 161 Fax +264 (0)61 245 942
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SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Email subs@ramsaymedia.co.za Online magsathome.co.za Local Phone 0860 100 203 Fax 086 670 4101 International Phone +27 (0)21 530 3255 Fax +27 (0)21 531 7303 SMS 41871 with reference ‘Property Magazine’ (R2 per sms) for subscription enquiries EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES General editorial@medianova.co.za Socials Western Cape socials@thepropertymag.co.za Socials Gauteng socials@thepropertymag.co.za Socials KwaZulu-Natal socialskzn@medianova.co.za Hot Property hotproperty@medianova.co.za Published monthly in three regional issues: Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Current ABC Audited Circulation (Q2 2010, April – June) Western Cape – 27 662, Gauteng – 27 976, KwaZulu-Natal – 17 928, Total Nationally – 73 566 Web Stats: Unique Page Impressions – 37 589; Number of Property Club Members – 23 368 Amps Audited National Readership (2010A) 370 000
Property DECOR PEDERSEN + LENNARD: FURNITURE WITH A TWIST
WESTERN CAPE
Property
GAUTENG
Property
KWAZULU-NATAL
DECOR PEDERSEN + LENNARD: FURNITURE WITH A TWIST
GUEST EDITOR REAL ESTATE RAEL LEVITT, CEO, AUCTION ALLIANCE
OGILVY DURBAN’S FUNKY DOCKSIDE WAREHOUSE
OGILVY DURBAN’S FUNKY DOCKSIDE WAREHOUSE GUEST EDITOR REAL ESTATE RAEL LEVITT, CEO, AUCTION ALLIANCE
HISTORICAL
HERMANUS
HOME SOUTH PELHAM
Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s ďŹ rst home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • Hout Bay: The truth behind the drama
THE HOUSE OF
STEEL
STYLE, QUALITY, SPACE
LOMBARDY ESTATE
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DECOR PEDERSEN + LENNARD: FURNITURE WITH A TWIST
A Somerset West eco-marvel
& Health Spa
Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s ďŹ rst home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • Hout Bay: The truth behind the drama
GUEST EDITOR REAL ESTATE RAEL LEVITT, CEO, AUCTION ALLIANCE Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s ďŹ rst home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • The Midlands awakens from its slumber
On this month’s covers Western Cape: South Pelham, Hermanus. +27 (0)82 801 5252, hpsrealty.co.za Gauteng: Lombardy Estate & Health Spa, Pretoria. lombardyestate.co.za KwaZulu-Natal: Prime Property – Somerset West Eco-Marvel
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Disclaimer The publisher and editor of this magazine give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised within this edition. Copyright Media Nova (Pty) Limited. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Media Nova (Pty) Limited. The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material.
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ED’S LETTER
A brave new move Photograph Ruvan Boshoff
And introducing … the new-look Property Magazine. Yes, we’ve done some renovations of our own, and we hope you find them as refreshing and inspiring as we do. In the words of Nancy Astor (the first woman to sit as a member of parliament in the British House of Commons), the main dangers in this life are the people who want to change everything or nothing. With this in mind, we’ve tried to take the middle road, so that all your favourite elements of The Property Magazine will still be intact, but there will also be so much more.You’ll notice that our pay-off line on the cover has also been changed to read ‘decor, trends, luxury, design and real estate’, to explain more concisely exactly what we are all about. Take cognizance of our fresh new page design, which we’ve aligned with the latest, worldwide, cutting-edge magazine design trends. I’m really excited to introduce a new concept to the magazine, in which we invite a major industry player to guest-edit our ‘Real Estate’ section. We believe this will add some valuable insight to these pages, and enable some experts to make their mark on our magazine. Auction Alliance CEO Rael Levitt, this month’s guest editor, is one of South Africa’s most innovative businessmen and has managed to take the SA auction industry to a whole new level. We are very privileged to have had his valuable input on the year ahead for property. There is also more enlightenment on this issue from some other prominent figures in the South African real-estate industry, who gave us their in-depth opinions on what’s really going on – it’s a must-read for anyone thinking of investing in property at the moment. Most importantly, though, we’ve designed the magazine so that you, our readers, can be fully involved with us on an interactive basis. Use our website links in the magazine to find out more about our stories or view more photographs and interact with us where possible. The phenomenon that is social networking isn’t going away – just ask Time magazine, which named Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as its Person of the Year for 2010, beating out even WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. With this in mind, we invite you to use our Facebook page to find out what we’re up to daily, and let us know what you like – and what you don’t. The days of passive readership are over!
If you haven’t yet, you really should…
ONLINE SUBSCRIBE Turn to page 53 for our special offer. VISIT Browse thepropertymag.co.za for the latest features. FOLLOW US on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/thepropertymagazine twitter.com/thepropertymag 0861 765 833
Sandy Welch, Editor
Take your kids to these two great,
Check out Donald Greig
Join the Bascule Whisky Club.
child-friendly restaurants. As a
Sculpture’s new foundry at the
Situated at the Cape Grace, Bascule
parent, it’s always a huge relief to
V & A Waterfront. It gives you
Bar has a collection of over 400
discover restaurants that cater for
the opportunity to get up close
whiskies from all over the world to
kids. ‘Organic’ and ‘children’ are
to the bronzing process and
choose from, and membership entitles
not words that sit well together.
watch the artists at work. Donald,
you to store whisky in a private
That’s why I was amazed to find
who is the fourth generation
cabinet with your own engraved
that green restaurant Eight at Spier
of the Charles Greig Jewellers
name plaque on it, private whisky
is also kiddie friendly. Tiny ‘baby’
family, uses a process known as
tastings, advice on purchases and
hamburgers served in colourful
lost- wax casting, which dates
a personalised cut crystal whisky
buckets, miniature frying pans for little
back 5 000 years. His works are
tumbler. +27 (0)21 410 7082,
fish and chips – it’s clever, imaginative,
world renowned and feature in
capegrace.com
and you might even be able to
some prominent homes around the
persuade your kids to eat something
country. It’s a fascinating place to
healthy! At Knife at Crystal Towers
visit. +27 (0)21 418 4515,
Hotel (pictured left), an authentic
donaldgreig.com
American-style steakhouse, kids get to wear a tiny plastic apron, and choose meals off an animal-shaped chalkboard. Food is served creatively, in pint-sized portions. Eight, +27 (0)21 809 1188, spier.co.za; Knife, +27 (0)21 551 5000, knife-restaurants.co.za
6 | February 2011
THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE
of the Mon
GREAT SCOTT! Greg and I want to thank you for featuring us in your ‘Architect Profile’ in the November issue. Compliments to you and your team for putting together a really well-written article; we have had nothing but very complimentary feedback. Comment has been forthcoming from the ‘right’ people. This again goes to show that you have the people that count reading your publications. Thanks again, and we can’t wait to see you again at the next Property Dinner. Greg Scott, Director, Greg Wright Architects Cape Town
MAINTAINING AN OPINION Every month I read your magazine with great interest, as property is a passion of mine. You frequently run articles about architects and the role they play. But once all the glitz and glamour of design and construction are over, a property needs to be maintained in order for it to have a long lifespan and look good at all times. This might not be as glamorous a role as architecture, but it is vital to the property industry. It would be great to see an article on prominent businesses in the property maintenance sector, as many readers out there still don’t know how important it is that they maintain their properties properly. Etienne de Villiers Cape Town
facebook.com/thepropertymagazine
twitter.com/thepropertymag
WINNING LETTER Write to us and you could win a Bugatti Glamour Range kitchenware hamper valued at R1 500! Buying kitchenware and gifts takes on a whole new meaning at Casa Bugatti, a company intent on changing the way you think about your tabletop and kitchen. Here, everyday items are evaluated and modified to present you with a brand- new concept. Thanks to a team of specialist designers, the comprehensive range of products is all about quality, beauty and practicality, italianlifestyle.co.za
•
LETTER th
the old adage, ‘Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.’ I’m not in the business, but I hugely enjoy your magazine. Tim Anderson Cape Town
325 Umhlanga Rocks Drive, UMHLANGA RIDGE Tel: 031 566 1137
FLUSHED You were very brave to feature an article about that marvellous monument to architectural impracticality and public offence, the infamous Werdmuller Centre, in Claremont. As distinct from sculpture, architecture should inherently be about creating an enjoyable and/or functional space for people. Being kind, I suggest that Roelof Uytenbogaardt considered neither of these aims, but may have designed that ghastly building for his own academic purpose, which was to encourage his students to think unconventionally and take risks. That the appearance of the Werdmuller Centre (aptly abbreviated to ‘WC’) was unanimously condemned by people on all levels of education and from every ethnic group proved its supreme failure in line and form. It comparably failed utterly to attract custom for its tenants. To access the above- ground level required of one to ascend an exposed incline surfaced with slippery slate, such that when it rained, pedestrians, apart from getting drenched, had to hang on to the rail in case they slipped. Alternative access was by dingy back stairs almost customised to the needs of muggers. Nearly all the fenestration was implacably hostile towards retail display. Successful retailing is enormously dependent on position. The logistics of the WC worked as comprehensively repellent to the public, especially to those hurriedly passing through the station. A really good architect should be able to get away with an adventurous or unorthodox concept, provided the users of the edifice feel comfortable to do their work or shopping in and around it.The WC unfortunately illustrates
•
view? Email letters@thepropertymag.co.za
69 Kramer Rd, Kramer ville, JOHANNESBURG Tel: 011 444 5379
You tell us Property involves us all. What’s your
www.lagrangeinteriors.co.za
LETTERS
La Grange
INTERIORS
GLE 2474 Lindt Valentines Ad(Property Mag).indd 1
29/11/2010 11:29
HOT PROPERTY
HOT space
Melon magic 1
T
he newest offering on
blended with duck fat, cream and fresh
the high street of eclectic
herbs and spices, chilled and served
Melville is Melon, a
with marinated cucumbers, blueberry
restaurant that’s bringing
chutney and toasted brioche; the pork
style and glamour back to the suburb.
cider jus and seasonal vegetables
Strauss have created a relaxed, classy
topped with spiced crackling; and
environment that entices diners to
white chocolate Bavarian dessert
enjoy the first-rate food.
served with melon jelly and drizzled with lemongrass syrup. (If fancy’s not your thing, you can
different areas: a main eating section; the stage area, where drinks and
also order a mouth-watering steak.) ‘There’s no reason why Melville
Words Tidi Benbenisti Photographs courtesy Melon
cocktails can be enjoyed, and which has a lounge feel to it; and an outside
can’t compete with or outclass
area that has a relaxed café vibe.
Parkhurst, Greenside and Melrose
When it comes to the menu,
Arch,’ comments Emil. ‘Everybody is
executive chef Thomas Grove’s
working hard to keep Melville clean
offerings range from the traditional to
and crime-free, and we are making
the extravagant.
a bold statement: that it is trendy
Expect dishes such as the duck pâté starter, consisting of confit duck
Fine dining returns to Melville’s menu.
belly main, served with apple mash,
Owners Emil Faber and Johann
The restaurant is divided into three
2
to hang out in Melville again.’ +27 (0)11 482 9965
3
4
Melon’s laid-back outdoor seating section 2The stage/lounge area has a hip retro vibe 3 Playful yet elegant
Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more superb,
1
trendy restaurants.
decor adds to Melon’s charm. 4Fine detailing accentuates the fine-dining experience at Melon.
February 2011 | 11
HOT PROPERTY
HOT PLATE MICHAEL BROUGHTON is the award-winning chef at Kleine Zalze’s Terroir Restaurant.
From decadent cupcakes to scrumptious sushi, the choice of eateries and culinary delights in Jo’burg is growing, and keeping patrons coming back for more.
Here he gives us a sneak peak into his favourite room at home … His kitchen.
Q What do you love most about your own home kitchen?
I love the wide-open space and the open-plan feel. I can cook up a storm and at the same time have eye and voice contact with friends and family sitting at the dining room table or at my kitchen counter. I love the huge wooden work surfaces, with lights directly above the longest of them. I often sit at this counter late at night, perched on a stool, poring over my recipe books, sifting through ideas and waiting and hoping for the next idea to germinate. It’s my favourite place in the house.
Q What are a few cooking essentials all aspirant foodies should have in their kitchens?
You have to have some toys in your kitchen to really impress your guests. A digital thermometer is my favourite gadget for preparing that ultra-tender pink lamb shoulder. I cannot live without my stick blender, the
Cup o’ style
Since it first opened its doors in September 2009, Cup – Decadently Yours, the quaint, pink-hued coffee shop in the heart of Morningside Shopping Centre, has been serving the most delectable, mouth-watering
quickest and handiest tool for whipping,
cupcakes, sandwiches and light meals. Inspired by old-school Hollywood glamour, Cup is the perfect spot to
blitzing and puréeing. My KitchenAid takes the
unwind while sipping on exotic teas, delicious coffee brews and divine dishes. Live entertainment has recently
stress out of whipping, whisking and mincing.
been introduced, including a line-up of musicians, singers and other performers. Cup also caters for private functions, parties and special requests. Anyone for Toblerone chocolate cheesecake? +27 (0)10 590 0162
Q If you had to choose your last meal, what would it be?
I’d start with a glass of Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 1996 bubbly while nibbling on blini with Oscietra and sour cream, then move on to simple pasta with loads of langoustines, a little chilli, fresh tomato, garlic and a touch of cream. Next: a juicy loin of pink lamb with Parmesan and tomato sauce, loads of olives, artichoke, garlic and basil. I’d end off with a few scoops of well-made dulce de leche ice cream.
most sought-after party hot spot.
Q Champagne and oysters or beer and braai?
Located in Rosebank (a floor above Latinova), Hush is the brainchild of Stephane Cohen. Its super-sexy
I have four weaknesses in life: beer, butter,
interiors and chic dance floor are
braai and bread. Braaiing is the best way to
only surpassed by the scintillating
entertain in summer – good friends, the kids
beats played by some of SA’s
swimming in the pool while watching the sunset, turning the meat, hearing the sizzle … Delicious! +27 (0)21 880 8167, kleinezalze.com
12 | February 2011
The word is ‘Hush’
finest DJs. For private functions, after- parties or a night out with friends, Hush is where it’s at. +27 (0)11 447 1082, hushclub.co.za
Compiled by Tidi Benbenisti and Genevieve Fisher
Hush has quickly become Jo’burg’s
HOT PROPERTY
HOT STUFF
These are our latest picks of fashionable summer goods, to be enjoyed while the temperatures are still soaring.
LEATHER BOUND
Lunch on the run
The Seraphine Sandal by Missibaba is on every fashionista’s hot list this season. Made from the finest leather sourced from South Africa and Argentina, the range draws inspiration from this summer’s keyword: colour – and lots of it. +27 (0)21 461 1083, missibaba.com
Overworked business execs will be pleased to know that The Grace Hotel in Rosebank has reintroduced its 59-Minute Lunch special. Included are two courses (starter and main, or main and dessert) off the new African-Asian fusion menu, for R99/person. When you make your reservation, remember to advise them that it’s the ‘speedy lunch’ option you want – everything will be in place on your arrival, to ensure you are indeed on your way in 59 minutes. +27 (0)11 280 7200, africansunhotels.com
SUMMER SHADES Brazilian fashion design guru, Alexandre Herchcovitch, has teamed up with MYKITA eyewear design specialists to create a collection of trendy unisex sunglasses in – for lack of a better term – eye-popping colours. Available at Extreme Eyewear. +27 (0)87 940 3830, extremeeyewear.co.za
Twice as nice
The second Koi restaurant is making its mark on Jo’burg’s culinary landscape. Situated in The Firs, in Rosebank, the new Koi continues the original Sandton restaurant’s tradition of fresh, innovative Asian cuisine. Sushi is just one of Koi’s specialities. The dim sum and noodles are similarly unmissable. The decor is ultra-mod, and there’s a cool outdoor area for al fresco summer dining. +27 (0)11 447 2440, koirest.co.za
BAG IT Coveted brand Cartier has unveiled its latest bag. Comprising top stitching, art deco design and plush textures – leathers or woollen fabric – and patterns, the Cartier bag is the epitome of French style and allure. Available in three sizes (large, medium and small), it is a timeless accessory. Find it at Boutique Cartier Sandton City. +27 (0)11 666 2800, cartier.com
February 2011 | 13
HOT PROPERTY
HOT DESIGN NICHOLAS HLOBO Visual artist Nicholas Hlobo is one of six extraordinary rising artists taking part
Hot on the home furnishings and decor front this month are local and international products to help you add some panache to your pad.
in the international Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative 2010– 2011, through which he’ll be spending a year in a mentoring relationship with renowned visual artist, Anish Kapoor.
Q Was there a defining moment in your youth when you decided you wanted to be an artist? There were no art or drawing classes in my primary school in Transkei, but by the time I was eight or nine years old, I was already drawing. When I was 11, people started telling me I’m an artist. After school I came to Jo’burg, trying to get into music by joining a band, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought, so I let it lie. I worked at a cement factory, but in every spare moment I was sketching. I decided I had to do something different with my life. It was clear I was interested in doing something creative, so I started studying fine arts the following year.
Q Describe your artistic vision.
last. Being South African, and coming from a
At home with Iman
country that is often described as Third World,
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we have to show that we are proud of our
exotic elements with the utmost sophistication – just like the supermodel herself.
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I want to make each artwork better than the
African supermodel Iman has launched her new range of home fabrics, Iman Home, available exclusively from
The Xhosa culture doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Referencing it is my way of telling a story – a South African/human story that many have told before – in a way that is fresh. In doing so, I’m introducing isiXhosa into high culture and art, elevating its status.
Q What was it like to meet Anish Kapoor?
I studied him at several points in my university him I decided to simply be myself and take the
and confident as an artist. He asked why I
Perfect match
wanted to become a protégé when clearly I
Matchpoint, the latest range of chairs from the
had found a direction for my art. I explained
Dauphin HumanDesign Group. The lightweight,
that people in South Africa thought I had got
carbon-manufactured swivel chairs have
what I wanted. But I felt that I had not found
integrated depth-adjustable lumbar support,
what I was looking for – that would take a
hyper-mobile armrests and Syncro-Dynamic
lifetime. I wanted to learn wisdom from those
technology that allows the seat to move from a
like him, who have a better understanding of
slight forward tilt to a relaxing, laid-back position.
the art world and of creating art.
From R8 030. +27 (0)11 447 9888, dauphin.co.za
opportunity to learn a little about him. He was interesting and exciting, and very comfortable
rolexmentorprotege.com
14 | February 2011
Give your back the support it needs with
Compiled by Tidi Benbenisti and Genevieve Fisher
career and admired his work. Before meeting
HOT PROPERTY
HOT DESIGN
Good tiling Locally developed and
produced by Johnson Tiles, the Capri ceramic tile is a new addition to the Tile Africa family. It has a glossy marble stone finish and is available in beige and coral. The neutral colour of the range means it is versatile and easy to combine with various decor styles and finishes. 0800 002 783, tileafrica.co.za
Hot Milk
Baby’s bedtime just got a whole lot more glam! The new range of Soho Cots by contemporary baby furniture specialists Milk Deco comes with an array of customisable options, from size to the artistically designed decals. Countrywide delivery. +27 (0)82 855 2925, milkdeco.co.za
Love in a wingback
The Love Chair from Robert Thomson adds a colourful touch to indoor and outdoor spaces. This baroque-style wing chair is imported from Italy, is made from moulded polypropylene and is durable and comfortable. What’s more, it comes in almost any colour you can think of. +27 (0)87 150 4749, robert-thomson.com
Brilliant finish
The Wetherlys way
The Kronotex Glamour Gloss Art
decked out in contrasting tones of grey with accents of
The big ‘O’
laminate range gives floors a slick,
The new range of organza scatter cushions from
neutral and clear lines dominate. The
white, and comprises a design emporium, retail space and
Coricraft has us reeling with pleasure. Available in
grey, raw steel, magma, white and red
coffee shop. Classic street signs and lamp posts help you
black and shades of pink, they’ll add the final touch
colours are exclusively available from
navigate the huge store.
to a romantic boudoir.
Floors Direct.
+27 (0)11 463 5479, wetherlys.co.za
0861 114 779, coricraft.co.za
0861 356 677, floorsdirect.co.za
Check out the chic design of the recently launched Wetherlys flagship store in Bryanston. Conceptualised by interior design firm, studiosixteen, the 2 100m store is 2
glossy finish. This trendy range is perfect for modern living areas where
February 2011 | 15
HOT PROPERTY
HOT STUFF
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
Turn your home into a high-tech playground.
02
The Crestron iPanel installs
cleanly around the iPad thanks to seamless integration via the iPad docking connector. It includes a stylish tabletop docking station charger, and allows for fully wireless tabletop and portable touch-panel operation.
01
03
Its intuitive nature makes
the Crestron iPanel easy to use for the whole family. It is also suited to the
The Crestron iPanel is a
device that allows you to control
commercial sector where, for example,
your home with ease. With the
it can be used in a boardroom to control
Apple iPad’s intuitive interface
projectors, screens, audio and lighting.
combined with the quick-access buttons on the Crestron iPanel, you can easily control lighting, climate, music, television … even curtains. It also communicates wirelessly with your home theatre system. Although the device is portable, it should ideally be placed in a high-traffic area in your home. On the kitchen counter, for instance.
Available from Nuru Intelligent Homes nationwide. +27 (0)21 461 9519, nuru.co.za
ENTERTAINMENT Out and about in February.
WHAT’S ON Strictly Tap Dance Fever, 15 February – 6 March This international tap dance sensation will make its South African debut at the Mandela Theatre at the Joburg Theatre Complex, with Amor Vittone making a guest appearance. The show is a rollicking trip through tap dance history, from the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers era through to modern-day a capella beats. Tickets from R170. computicket.com
Jo’burg Fashion Week, 15 – 19 February Jo’burg Fashion Week showcases Autumn/Winter 2011’s trends as envisioned by some of SA’s hottest designers. Joburg’s landmarks will be the canvas for the five-day fashion extravaganza. computicket.com
OF MASKS AND MEN
The Gauteng HOMEMAKERS Expo, 24 – 27 February
Swiss theatre troupe Mummenschanz, which first started in 1972 and has since become world
The Gauteng HOMEMAKERS Expo, on at the Coca-
famous for their unusual form of visual theatre, is returning to SA. The group uses masks and
Cola Dome in Northriding, showcases the latest
three-dimensional sculptural heads to tell a variety of stories. Catch them at The State Theatre in
trends for your home. Entrance fee: R60 for adults,
Pretoria from 22 – 27 February and at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from 1 – 19 March as they
R30 for pensioners and children under 12 are free.
transform common objects and materials into fascinating visuals and portray everyday situations
homemakersonline.co.za
with side- splitting humour. computicket.com
16 | February 2011
MY FIRST HOME
A songbird’s
Words Genevieve Fisher
NEST S
wan-like and regal, Simphiwe Dana describes the first house she owned with romantically charged adjectives and phrases: ‘curvy’, ‘roundedness’ and ‘with the smell of jasmine wafting through the windows in spring’. She is talking about her house in the quiet neighbourhood of Orange Grove, Johannesburg, where she lived before relocating to Cape Town for – what else? – love. ‘When I first moved to Orange Grove, I rented a house nearby to the one I bought. Every day I’d walk past it, and from the moment I laid my eyes on the house, I knew I had to live there. I loved the old- school roundedness of it, and I later found out that it was built by an Italian some 20 to 30 years ago and had been renovated by all the previous owners. I loved the front garden, and when I finally bought it I was pleasantly surprised by the back garden with its pool area and deck,’ she says. With music being an integral part of her life, Simphiwe feels nostalgic when she thinks of her lively get-togethers in the house. ‘I love hosting people, and the house in Orange Grove saw many evenings of lavish dinners, friends, live musicians singing and playing the piano and, of course, Salif Keita and Busi Mhlongo as background music. My friends and I would
also engage in heated debates. I miss it a lot.’ Simphiwe has a string of accolades to her name, not only for her music but also for fronting a Woolworths’ ad campaign. ‘It was amazing, dancing to Pata Pata with Tata Desmond Tutu and Lucas Radebe – there were good vibes all round,’ she says. Last year saw the South African Music Awards-winning artist releasing her third album, Kulture Noir, to much acclaim, as well as making the move to Cape Town. ‘I had been in Jozi for too long and needed a change. So when I fell in love with someone who wanted to make a life in Cape Town, I jumped at the opportunity.’ She now lives in Oranjezicht, in a house she describes as ‘not as exciting as my house in Orange Grove’. As post-production of her live DVD is being wrapped up, Simphiwe says she’d love to spend more time at home. ‘The house I live in now is more modern than the one in Orange Grove, and I’ve painted it beautiful colours. Whereas in my previous house my favourite room was my bedroom, in this house it has to be the kitchen – I absolutely adore it and really should use it more,’ she says. When asked what inspires her, Simphiwe says reflectively, ‘A concern for the human condition … Of course, starting with my own.’ With these last words, we’re sure that this songbird’s kitchen is only just warming up, and more lively memories will be created at her new nest in Cape Town.
What the agents say Orange Grove is situated 15 minutes from the Johannesburg and Sandton CBDs, and is a very accessible area, perceived as being halfway between the northern and southern suburbs. Mark Goldberg of RE/MAX Central Norwood says the last eight or so years have seen average prices in Orange Grove triple in value. ‘It is also a culturally eclectic suburb with a vibrant mix of people – Jews, Muslims, West Africans and South Africans all live side by side, giving the suburb a distinctly cosmopolitan atmosphere,’ he says. ‘People living in Orange Grove are not short of things to do. Norwood, renowned for its restaurants and coffee shops, is a stone’s throw away and has an active community policing programme that also serves Orange Grove, accounting for the secure feeling of the suburb. The newly reopened Norwood Shopping Mall is also nearby, while Melrose Arch and Rosebank are only 10 minutes away.’+27 (0)11 853 5400, remax-central.co.za
18 | February 2011
Photograph of house by Hessel Pole. Photograph of Simphiwe by Nick Boulton for Gallo Record Company
Considered to be this generation’s Miriam Makeba, Simphiwe Dana’s belief in love led her to make Cape Town her home.
PLAKA RESTAURANT. Margarita Haitas
Sean Williams Contracts is founded on the principals of outstanding furniture quality, excellent service and reliability. T he past few years have seen
a cheetah, a wild dog, an Egyptian
furniture trends moving from wood to
vulture, a gorilla, a polar bear and
polypropylene. Moulded designs have
a rhino. Help save
shifted to a woven or patterned look,
other species from
improving the product’s longevity.
extinction by living
In his quest to create awareness
a greener life.
of the environment and endangered
+27 (0)11 447 0901,
species, Sean Williams has adopted
seanwilliamscontracts.co.za
PRIME PROPERTY
Glass act Architect Vernon Head has turned a seemingly impossible dream into reality for a visionary young couple by building them an eco-friendly home out of steel and glass. Words Melanie Farrell Photographs Adriaan Louw
Lighting was one of the crucial considerations in the design of the home, and at night the house comes alive.
Some of the key architectural elements can be seen in the main living area – ‘glass walls’, split levels and huge sliding doors that let in the light.
PRIME PROPERTY
T
he house doesn’t give much away from the road: a low- key boundary wall and some low- pitched roofs is all that is visible. But enter the sliding front gate and you’re in for a surprise: at eye level is a dramatic glass bridge that links the two sides of the house, giving you a clear view across False Bay. The Vernon Head-designed home in Boskloof Eco-Estate in Somerset West is a high-impact house with a low-impact eco- footprint. When the owner discovered the eco-estate five years ago, he and his wife fell in love with it. ‘Our dream was to build a house that was completely integrated with the surrounding fynbos,’ says the owner.‘We bought a 1 100m2 plot with magnificent views and we drove around Cape Town for two months looking at building sites with inspiring designs and found one with Vernon’s name on it. When I took him to the site for the first time he was in awe and absolutely silent for about five minutes. He enjoyed the 360º views, listened to the abundance of birdlife and said: “I will build your dream house!”’ ‘Our brief to Vernon was simple, if contradictory,’ the owner adds. ‘We told him we wanted a glass house that was completely private. We wanted to make the most of the scenery and views, but we are very private people, so we didn’t want to be overlooked by our neighbours.’ Architect V ernon Head says, ‘The owners told me they wanted a glass-and-steel house that met the eco-estate’s strict design guidelines and gave them complete privacy. I also had to work with a steeply sloping plot. But this is where creativity comes into architecture. If you give me a flat plot without any restrictions and just say, “Build me a house”, it doesn’t challenge me. ‘I went with a classic Cape Dutch H-plan but I gave it a modern twist. The H-plan enabled me to create two private courtyards, one at the front of the house and the other at the back, for entertaining. By doing this I was able to give my clients their all-important privacy and make extensive use of the “wow” factor that comes from using glass as a structural material. ‘When you walk along the glass bridge between the two sides of the house you feel as if you’re walking outside. The use of glass also gave me the scope to do inventive things with lighting because there are so few solid walls within the house to block light. At night
the house really comes alive. Lighting, for me, is a crucial element in design. A house must be designed for day and night; good lighting will draw your eyes to features outside the house when it’s dark,’ says V ernon. ‘I used the sloping plot to my advantage,’ he continues. ‘It gave me the opportunity to work with different levels in the house. I like to use split levels, where there is double- volume room to define spaces, in keeping with the German concept of “Raumplan”. For example, in the lounge and dining area, which is double volume, the lounge is sunken so as to distinguish it from the dining and kitchen area. I also built a “false chimney” to help define the living areas (the eco-friendly biofuel fireplace doesn’t need a flue).’ The extensive use of glass “walls” within the private courtyards creates a unique interaction with the outdoors. When the weather is fine the 3m-high sliding doors in the main courtyard are pulled back to
Temperature control is a consideration due to the extensive use of glass, and Vernon has allowed for this in his design. Standard safety glass has been used in the construction, while see-through blinds are used to regulate the temperature.Vernon has also placed small windows at the side of the big panes of glass to allow for a throughflow of air. ‘The house is constructed in a north-west direction, which allows the living-area wing to utilise the sun in winter to warm it while the bedrooms stay cool. In summer – thanks to small ventilation windows, block-out blinds, soft fabric curtains, roof overhangs above the main bedroom and the high ceilings in the living area – the hot air is allowed to escape. Only one air-conditioning unit was installed, in a back room where the baby sleeps, for consistent temperature control.’ ‘With almost all glass panes being sliding doors, the house can open up entirely to embrace the indigenous garden. We have the feeling of being in nature all year round,’ says
‘Our brief to Vernon was simple, if contradictory: we wanted an eco-friendly glass house that’s completely private.’ remove all barriers to the outdoors. The owner laughs. ‘It’s a bit like luxury camping,’ he says. The house has ample accommodation for the owner, his wife, their two-year-old daughter and newborn son and the owner’s two kids from his first marriage. There are five bedrooms, most of which have en-suite bathrooms and sliding doors to the outside, as well as a playroom. The master suite has a magnificent open-plan bathroom and bedroom and the bath sits on a pedestal above the bed with a panoramic view of False Bay. ‘This is where my wife likes to enjoy a sundowner,’ confides the owner. ‘I prefer the shower – it allows me to enjoy the magnificent views.’ The size and scale of the house have been extended to include custom-made doors that reach from floor to ceiling. Clean lines are everywhere, from the tall mirrors hiding builtin cabinets in the bathrooms to the floating staircase leading to the second floor.
the owner. ‘As a family we love the outdoors and enjoy camping. It was always our dream to be living in harmony with nature, waking up in the morning and hearing the birds and having guinea fowl and buck walking on our grounds. With the almost-seamless inside/ outside flow of the house, this was made possible.’ Coloured glass has been used throughout the house as wall cladding, providing colour that is in keeping with the extensive use of glass. For example, the guest bathroom has electric-blue glass walls, and a dove-grey glass panel in the kitchen has been used as a splashback above the sink. ‘Glass is a great material to use as a wall finish as it reflects light. Dark glass can act as a mirror, making a room appear bigger that it is,’ says Vernon. The house also has windows in some unexpected places: in the kitchen there’s a low window above the sink; another window is at foot height in the dining room, where it frames restios growing outside. ‘Windows
placed at unusual heights can act as living art,’ explains Vernon. He adds, ‘I encourage my clients to use environmentally friendly finishes in their houses, so for this house the owners found recycled wooden parquet flooring. They wanted a wooden floor as opposed to hard tiles, and I don’t like using endangered woods in the houses I build, so the parquet – some of it originally from Parliament – is a nice compromise.’ ‘We like the fact that with all the modern glass and steel of the house we have an older element in the aged wooden floors,’ says the owner. ‘It balances the hard edges.’ ‘My wife and I had all the furniture custom made, from the 7,5m-long curtains to the glass-enclosed bathtub and from the kiaat- wood wall unit in the lounge to the floating wine gallery,’ adds the owner. ‘We tried the conventional route, but it just didn’t feel right. The house needed interesting yet minimalist design to highlight all the special features Vernon had come up with.’ ‘I like to advise my clients on garden design too,’ says Vernon. ‘I’m the vice- chairman of Birdlife SA and I believe that architecture doesn’t have to destroy suburbia. If indigenous plants are grown it is possible to create a green corridor for wildlife, even in built-up areas. Your garden can be a mini nature reserve.’ The owner adds, ‘My wife did all the landscaping and designed the indigenous garden herself. Plus we’re surrounded by the beautiful preserved fynbos of the estate. We’re fortunate in that there is a green belt both behind and in front of the house. This gives the impression that our garden is much bigger than it is in reality.’ Vernon has made it his mission to redefine green luxury housing. ‘I believe that there is a demand for luxury green homes such as this one and therefore I have formed Livissimo Future Homes to cater for this market. It is possible to build high-end, eco-conscious homes using smart technology. This house has various environmentally friendly features, such as a standard solar geyser, but I am looking into building homes using photovoltaic cell technology in roofs and windows. Livissimo homes will use natural light and ventilation, incorporate rainwater and grey-water systems and have LED lighting. This will enable houses to be almost self-sufficient and have a much smaller eco-footprint than the luxury homes currently being built.’
Visit thepropertymag.co.za for a look at other
With thanks …
extraordinary homes across the country.
Vernon Head Architects, Vernon Head, +27 (0)76 569 1389, info@livissimo.de
February 2011 | 23
‘We like the fact that with all the modern glass and steel of the house we have an older element in the aged wooden floors. It balances the hard edges.’ 24 | February 2011
PRIME PROPERTY
Opposite Recycled parquet flooring softens the modern lines of the minimalist kitchen that flows effortlessly into the dining area. This page, clockwise from top left The master suite with its magnificent open-plan bathroom; the glass-enclosed bath tub rests on a bed of pebbles, while the shower is unenclosed; views across the pool to the sea; one of the private courtyards, ideal for entertaining guests or soaking up the summer rays.
February 2011 | 25
INSIGHT
26 | February 2011
INSIGHT
Words Thabang Mokopanele and Sandy Welch
The State of
SA REAL
ESTATE
The Property Magazine posed some probing questions to six of the country’s leading real-estate industry players. Here’s their take on everything from coping with the recession to dealing with BEE compliance and government training requirements.
February 2011 | 27
INSIGHT
The panel Peter Gilmour, Chairman, RE/MAX of Southern Africa Samuel Seeff, Chairman, Seeff Property Services Andrew Golding, Chief Executive, Pam Golding Properties Lew Geffen, Chairman and Co-Owner, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Berry Everitt, CEO, Chas Everitt International Property Group Keith Wakefield, CEO, Wakefields Estate Agents
T
he past 12 years have seen the South African real-estate market boom and bust, but never lose its resilience compared to its global counterparts. While 2009 was a particularly bad year for the industry, with the number of registered agents dropping from 80 000 to 36 000, 2010 seems to have seen some more positive movement. To date, SA real estate is worth R4- trillion, with the residential property market taking the majority share at R2,12- trillion (IPD). But there are some major challenges facing the industry. Here’s how some of the captains of industry plan on meeting them.
How is your company faring at the moment? Peter Gilmour: Although 2009 was a bad year for us, things definitely turned in 2010. Sales are up by 40%, and in October we had our best sales month since 2007. The upper end of the market has slowed because of people’s price expectations and credit limitations, but the middle market – in the price range of R1-million and R2,5- million – is strong, particularly in Gauteng, which has outperformed Durban and Cape Town. Samuel Seeff: In general, 2010 was a better year than 2008/9, and we are now proceeding along the X-axis of an L-graph, which I believe will continue well into 2011. At the height of the property boom there were 40 000 property transactions being registered at the Deeds Office each month. In 2010 the average was 16 000/month. There was certainly greater demand than in the previous two years, due to interest rates being at their lowest levels in 35 years, but this did not translate into finalisation of sales, because of the banks’ far stricter lending criteria. Andrew Golding: I am very satisfied with the performance of our group in the current environment. In 2010 we saw our number of sales increase by 20% off the 2009 lows, and this in an environment where house price values have, at best, remained flat. We are anticipating achieving sales turnover of approximately R12-billion for the financial year ended February 2011. Lew Geffen: Our brand aims at a very specific market where the average price point is R2,5-million and our clients, in the main, are professionals. This category of the market has done exceedingly well
over the past two years. At the end of 2008, we saw sales volumes drop by 50%. In the 2008 – 2009 year, property sales volumes increased by 48% on the previous year and in the 2010 year-to-date we have seen a further increase in volumes of sales of 30%. I’d say house prices in this market have increased modestly by about 7% since the beginning of this year. Berry Everitt: The year 2010 will be remembered as the year in which stability returned. We saw the number of competitors declining, so were able to sell more and keep our costs firm, and our profits for financials for 2010 were positive. Our agents have adapted well to change, and we have managed to secure quite a few agents from other companies, enabling us to increase our market share in certain suburbs. Keith Wakefield: The KwaZulu-Natal market picked up by around 23% in 2010. There are buyers in all price segments of the market, although the highest demand and the most activity is in the affordable segment, from R400 000 to around R1-million. However, there has been very little increase in property prices, and in many instances there is still a lot of overpricing.
How many agents and offices do you now have compared to 2008, and what is your target here for end-2012? Samuel Seeff: We have had very little fallout in terms of our offices and agents. In 2010 we increased our presence in Jo’burg South, Bedfordview and Edenvale and in Hillcrest and Kloof in KZN. There has also been a number of changes of ownership of existing licences, but we’ve kept the footprint across SA the same.We are currently at about 1 200 agents, slightly down from the peak of 1 300 in 2007/8. We currently have in excess of 220 offices nationally. Peter Gilmour: At the end of 2009, we ended the year with 1 400 agents. At the end of 2010, we were up to 1 700, which percentage-wise is the biggest growth of agents for the past 10 years. The last time we grew so much was in 2001. We sold 20 new franchises in 2010 and saw the growth of nearly 300 agents. In terms of the RE/ MAX family, it makes us as the biggest growth
‘The drive to professionalise the industry has been accepted as good for all involved.’ Samuel Seeff, Chairman, Seeff Property Services
28 | February 2011
region percentage-wise in the world out of 70 countries. Seeing that the industry regressed as a whole in 2010, we are very proud of this. Berry Everitt: To date we have 840 agents, and at the end of 2007 we had over 1 000. Most of those who left were lower-level agents. Andrew Golding: The Pam Golding Property Group has just under 300 offices at present – a figure that has not varied much in recent years. Staff complement is currently approximately 2 500, having been reduced by about 500 in 2008, at a time when the market saw sales contract sharply. Lew Geffen: Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty has increased its national footprint by 12% since the recession. The company is on a growth path in 2011 and over the past three months we rolled out four franchise operations. Keith Wakefield: Wakefields Estate Agents currently has 390 estate agents of which 75 are interns recruited during the year. During the downturn Wakefields did lose a number of estate agents including those who retired. The company fared better than others because it is an independent real-estate company that is able to provide a support system for its agents and because of its internal training.
What have you been doing differently to cope with the recessionary climate? Andrew Golding: Having been in the industry for more than 30 years, we’ve observed that each downturn in the market has some similarities to previous downturns, as well as some new features. We have focused on sticking to what we know – the marketing and sales of the country’s premier real estate through service excellence. We have also focused on key aspects, such as training, and are constantly introducing marketing innovations, including the use of new media. Samuel Seeff: First, externally, we have needed to counsel sellers regarding their pricing expectations. Many property sellers are still holding out in trying to fetch 2007 prices, and we have needed to steadily adjust these perceptions. Second, internally, as we have always had a lean operational model, we have been fortunate in that we have not needed to make too many adjustments to overhead and personnel. We have used this opportunity to cement some key positions in the group. Berry Everitt: One of the strategies we followed was to make sure we understood the meaning of the word ‘stakeholder’. Our communication was well managed and we created an environment in which it was easy
INSIGHT for our agents to provide quick and relevant information to our customers. Our national advisory councils helped guide us through the tough times, so we could best service our customers. Peter Gilmour: Training has been a big priority. Over 600 agents have gone on a real-estate course I brought in from the US. We have positioned ourselves very strongly in the distressed property space and created a special department to work purely on this sector. About 15% of sales in 2010 were distressed, and our banking partners indicate that up to 40% of all sales in 2011 will be distressed.We are launching a course to teach our agents how to deal with distressed sales, from helping people to keep their homes to dealing with the psychological implications. Lew Geffen: It’s the age of technology and social networking. Information is giving us
‘In terms of the RE/ MAX family, RE/MAX of southern africa is percentage-wise the biggest growth region in the world out of 70 countries.’ Peter Gilmour, Chairman, RE/MAX of Southern Africa
challenge is one that has to be solved and all stakeholders are currently engaged in finding workable solutions. Peter Gilmour: We have a Level 4 BEE rating as a company, which I believe is the highest in the real-estate industry. We now have over 250 agents of colour, and we have 25 franchises either owned or managed by black agents. We are very focused on this
‘The year 2010 will be remembered as the year in which stability returned.’ Berry Everitt, CEO, Chas Everitt International Property Group
better insight into what is happening in the marketplace and where we need to hone our skills, and it identifies our client base. Case in point, one of our agents sold a home to the lead singer of the Parlotones, Kahn Morbee, by accessing Facebook. Keith Wakefield: More than representing a successful, long-standing family business and our values, the backbone of the brand is service to our clients. Being a wholly owned real-estate company rather than a franchise is a strength and has many advantages that further underpin service and client confidence. The current economic climate and the challenge it has thrown at estate agents is a case in point: our managers and directors bring their vast experience, including that of previous downturns, to bear on the business.
How BEE compliant are you? Andrew Golding: The unfortunate reality is that despite many industry players’ efforts, transformation in the residential sector has been slower than desired. Given the commission-only based remuneration structure that the industry operates on for agents, it is very difficult to attract new black talent when other industries offer a less-risky alternative. This is further compounded by the current recessionary state of the market and the fact that the barrier to entry in the residential real-estate industry has been raised with the introduction of a new curriculum for estate agents. The transformation
issue, and have been selling in areas where no one wants to do business. We are positioned and focused to take transformation forward from 250 to 500 agents of colour next year. We will be running training programmes to help and mentor new and existing agents. Lew Geffen: We are trying our best to transform our company. One of the biggest challenges facing the industry at the moment is that the barrier to entry is so stringent that we are getting far fewer applications from all race groups than ever before. Still, we are establishing innovative programmes that go right to grassroots to promote transformation through our training academy, The Learning Institute, to focus on developing black entrepreneurs. Samuel Seeff: We are not BEE compliant at this stage, but we are looking at understanding the requirements of the Property Transformation Charter (PTC) and assessing our situation accordingly. At one stage the company had roughly 15% people of colour in the workforce. This has been
‘It’s the age of technology and social networking. we sold a home to the lead singer of the Parlotones by accessing Facebook.’ Lew Geffen, Chairman and Co-Owner, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty
February 2011 | 29
INSIGHT reduced dramatically with the downturn of the economy. I believe that the main benefits we will see coming through will be far greater mentoring and assisting of those previously disadvantaged who are coming into the industry. Berry Everitt: We are ambassadors and proponents of the PTC, and while we believe it could have had slight practical changes, we have however, made provisions in this department, because we believe it’s positive and necessary. We have 108 companies, so from a scorecard perspective, each has to achieve targets. We are focusing on aligning our scorecards and making sure all the pillars are adhered to. It has been one of our biggest priorities, but has been difficult to achieve in the recession. Keith Wakefield: More than 50% of Wakefields Real Estate consultants are black and 70% of our consultants are female.
How are the government’s RPL qualification for the realestate industry affecting you? Samuel Seeff: Most agents and principals who wish to remain in the industry will have completed their Recognition of Prior Learning requirements by the end of 2011. The drive to professionalise the industry has been accepted as good for all involved. Berry Everitt: I hope that Seta has enough moderators to cope with it, because it is behind schedule. I’m comfortable we will meet the goal though, because the majority of our agents have done the course, and over the next three months a lot more are scheduled to go through. It’s good to have a standard, although I have to caution that academia doesn’t necessarily create salespeople. It’s all about having the right attitude. Andrew Golding: In 2000 we established the Pam Golding Training Academy – one of the first institutions to become a Services Seta-accredited training provider, and accredited to offer the new NQF Level 4 certificate qualifications introduced by the Department of Trade and Industry. At the start of 2009 we introduced a comprehensive training programme by incorporating the new curriculum within our own training programme and our process of accreditation
‘in 2010 we saw our number of sales increase by 20% off the 2009 lows, and this in an environment where house price values have, at best, remained flat.’ Andrew Golding, Chief Executive, Pam Golding Properties of all PGP agents. All agents will have completed the RPL programme nationally within the deadline of December 2011. Peter Gilmour: I foresee this causing the number of registered agents to drop off even further towards the end of 2011. Getting the whole industry qualified by the end of next year will be a big thing, seeing that to date only about 25% have completed the qualifications. Will there be enough trainers available? On the positive side, at least by 2012 all agents in the industry will be qualified and the standard of service delivery will be raised. RE/MAX is currently investigating having all its courses recognised as official training. Lew Geffen: Our agency is on top of it. All our people are qualified through our Learning Institute, but I am still worried about the lack of future entrants. Keith Wakefield: We have registered the Wakefields Training Academy with the Services Seta and appointed Lindsay Gartrell, the first assessor in the country to be registered with the Services Seta for the real- estate industry, to ensure that all our agents meet the new required qualification. As many as 80% of Wakefields’ estate agents have successfully completed the course, while the remainder are finalising their studies.This has clearly refocused their knowledge and improved their professionalism.
What effect will the new consumer Act havE on industry? Samuel Seef: In general, the legal advice given has been that the transaction between buyer and seller will in all likelihood not fall within the realms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). But estate agents will need to be far more focused on ensuring that their marketing to their clients falls within the ambit of the Act. Estate agents have to comply to the code of ethics according to the Estate Agency Affairs Board, and many of
these provisions that regulate our behaviour are found within the Act and as such should not present too much difficulty in the way the industry operates. Berry Everitt: From a consumer point of view, it’s a world-class act, but I believe it simply follows on from the code of conduct of the Estate Agents Act, which our company already follows, so it won’t be a big change. I think it will mostly affect developers, and agents selling developments will have to be aware of the new clauses. Peter Gilmour: The Act impacts our franchise agreements, so we have already worked on changing these. Other than that, I don’t think it will affect us too much. We already get sellers to disclose any problems they are aware of in the house and sign it off to avoid any comeback. Lew Geffen: It’s good for the industry, as long as it doesn’t go overboard in terms of restricting advertising to the extent that all puffery is challenged by the consumer. Genuinely misleading advertising is out of the question. In terms of pricing parameter advertising, it should be allowed because it is an invitation to do business and is no different to the auction business. Andrew Golding: Agents will need to ensure that their mandates comply with the provisions of the CPA and take cognizance of, for example, the consumer’s rights to plain and simple language, and include provisions for a cooling-off period where applicable. Agents also need to ensure that their direct marketing practices comply with the requirements of the CPA. Keith Wakefield: There may be some implications with regard to mandates but these will be clarified on publication of the regulations.
Where do you see the future of the real-estate industry, and
‘More than representing a successful, long-standing family business and our values, the backbone of the brand is service to our clients. ’ Keith Wakefield, CEO, Wakefields Estate Agents
30 | February 2011
how Do you see the way you do business changing over the next five years? Keith Wakefield: The future of real estate is positive due to the new education requirements, which I believe will result in a more favourable public image, something that is well overdue. There may be fewer agents going forward, but those who remain will be knowledgeable professionals able to provide excellent service to the public. As far as we are concerned, we will continue recruiting in 2011 and are in a strong position to recruit rookies because of the training we offer. Samuel Seeff: I believe the next two years are going to be tough in terms of trading, unless the banks relax their stringent lending criteria. So we need to ensure that we focus on doing ‘the basics’ well. Technology will play an increasingly important role. Berry Everitt: I’m not looking as far ahead as five years – the industry is too dynamic for that. I’m planning for the next 12 months, but we review and reassess all positions every three months and take short- term interventions. Our structures are pliable, and we create an environment in which people feel comfortable by providing the correct access to data and systems and focusing on making sure our business model is not one or two dimensional but flexible for what’s required. Peter Gilmour: I have lots of expectations for next year, although I think property demand will remain flat for most of the year. I see the number of distressed properties increasing significantly. I believe 2011 will mark the beginning of accelerated BEE transformation in the industry and that the South African property market and the economy as a whole will largely be governed by external forces over the next 12 months, including move towards currency strength by emerging markets and the continuing recessionary climate in Europe and the US. Service delivery and transformation will become paramount to success. Andrew Golding: There are many expansion plans, locally and internationally, and in particular on the African continent. We plan to add about 10 to 20 offices a year for the next few years, depending on specific market conditions. This is likely to represent an increase of between 150 and 250 new agents per annum.
the NEIGHBOURHOOD
Lost in the woods
Words and photographs Ed Suter
Hout Bay is popular as an affordable seaside suburb, but competing demands for resources are pushing the area to the brink.
This page Riders at the Hout Bay Riding Centre. ‘Slow down – Horses’, is a common street sign in this seaside suburb.
February 2011 | 31
the NEIGHBOURHOOD
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n a beautiful, clear day, with no trace of the infamous south-easterly wind, a speedboat whips across the sea below Hangberg on the slopes of the Sentinel. ‘There has always been talk of Hangberg being a mini Monaco, a rich man’s paradise,’ says Greg Louw, spokesperson for the Hout Bay Civic Association, an organisation formed 10 years ago to address issues facing the Hangberg community, as he watches the speedboat zip past another boat taking tourists for a trip around the bay. While some parts of Hout Bay could be described as having a touch of Monaco about them, in particular the luxurious homes in the Hanging Meadows estate with their views over the Atlantic, Hangberg, a low-income area predominantly settled by those working in the fishing industry, could by no stretch of the imagination be thought of as being one of them. If further illustration of this fact is needed, Greg is standing among the rubble where, in September 2010, the City of Cape Town pulled down dwellings constructed above the mountain’s firebreak, on land belonging to Table Mountain National Park. (The dispute is currently under mediation). At the same time as these illegal dwellings on the mountainside were being pulled down, in a piece of sociopolitical irony in which this country excels, environmental
on a 34ha site (of which 16ha have yet to be developed). In conversations with residents of Hout Bay, Imizamo Yethu is the topic most frequently raised, and most think they are getting a raw deal as a result of its existence. Those who live in Imizamo Yethu feel they are being used for political gain by different political parties but see little improvement in their living conditions. White residents see the township as the source of the water pollution that has resulted in the sea at Hout Bay beach being declared out of bounds. And coloured residents feel they are being sidelined by housing policies that give priority to Imizamo Yethu residents while their much longer association with the area is ignored. The Residents’ Association of Hout Bay (RAHB) is facing the challenges on a number of fronts: opposing the new estate development, which the association’s chairman, Len Swimmer, calls ‘an upmarket elite development for the very wealthy’, and working with the Hout Bay and Llandudno Environmental Conservation Group’s court action to get the City of Cape Town to decant 5 000 households from Imizamo Yethu to another site. Of the influx of residents to Imizamo Yethu, Len says, ‘The only way for Hout Bay to cope is to ensure capacity is decreased.’ In response to the proposal for the new housing estate on Erf 3 477, he counters,
‘The crime in Hout Bay is no more than other areas, but it has this stigma, and it is this stigma that has kept Hout Bay affordable.’ Stephan Cross, Seeff Properties permission was being granted by the Western Cape’s environmental and development planning department for the construction of a luxury gated estate to be built on the slopes of the Karbonkelberg, alongside Hangberg. Hout Bay, which its residents often describe as a ‘village’, and is only accessible from three different mountain passes, is at once the epitome of an idyllic neck of the woods looking for ways to expand, and a microcosm of many of the issues facing contemporary South Africa. In this racially divided city, it is unusual to have the three different communities of blacks, whites and coloureds, with their three vastly different standards of living, in such close quarters to each other, in one area. Imizamo Yethu, an informal Hout Bay settlement of predominantly migrants from the Eastern Cape, has been growing in size since its origins in the late 1980s to now accommodate approximately 40 000 people
‘The development is totally inappropriate on the urban edge. Our appeal is that there is no right for development there. It should not be there in the first place.’ The RAHB is one of 14 organisations, including the site’s developers, that have lodged an appeal against the environmental authorisation for the development on Erf 3 477. The developer, Elegant Square Trading, is appealing against the province’s reducing the development from 35 single residential properties and two general residential properties (for group homes) to 21 single properties and two general properties (for a further 26 homes). The project as it now stands is considered by Elegant Square Trading to be uneconomical. In its appeal, it says a new development on the mountainside ‘will ensure that this portion of Hout Bay will be maintained and not fall prey to speculative squatting and the spread of informal development’.
Opposite Yachts moored at the Hout Bay Yacht Club. The harbour is the epicentre of trade and tourism in Hout Bay. This page, top right The view over the bay from Hangberg, a predominantly coloured community mostly employed in the fishing industry. Bottom right The Mainstream Shopping Centre, an upmarket mixed-use development.
February 2011 | 33
The NEIGHBOURHOOD As one commentator on IOL’s website put it, ‘What is better – developing the land properly or letting it go to a land-grab?’ Len says in response, ‘This is hardly a reason to grant development on the urban edge. We heard the same cry in 1990 from developers who eventually built the Beach Club residential development right on Hout Bay beach.’ The conflicts in Hout Bay crystallise the issues of land and access to natural resources in South Africa. Everyone, it seems, wants a piece of Hout Bay. Louise Reister, a property consultant with RE/MAX Properties, says Hout Bay is so popular because of its affordability and its centrality. The area is particularly popular among young families with children, as well as with ‘swallows’, who are drawn to the ease of owning a property in the gated estates mushrooming in the area. Louise says, ‘What is unique about Hout Bay is the huge variation in properties, from the entry-level homes to the R25- million homes, compared to an area such as Clifton, where everything is priced so high.’ There is nowhere else on the Atlantic Seaboard, she says, where you can find a three- bedroom, two-bathroom family home with garden and swimming pool from as little as R1,5- million. Entry-level homes in an estate, of which there are now many in Hout Bay, begin at R3,5- million and stretch up to R25- million. Stephan Cross, an agent with Seeff Properties, agrees that Hout Bay is still affordable for young families, and puts this down partly to the perception of its crime levels because of the proximity of Imizamo Yethu. Stephan says, ‘Crime in Hout Bay is, in fact, no worse than it is in Constantia or Camps Bay, but it’s got a stigma of having more crime than anywhere else, because it has the informal settlement. Stats will reveal that most crimes committed in Hout Bay are not committed by residents of Imizamo Yethu, but by people coming from other settlement areas. The crime in Hout Bay is no more than in other areas, but it has this stigma, and it is this stigma that has kept Hout Bay affordable.’ Despite what everyone else believes – that Hout Bay is a village – Stephan thinks that is an outdated assessment. ‘Thank God the word “republic” has fallen out of use a little bit. People do still seem to think it’s a village, but I think it has very much outgrown its “village” status. I have been here 13 years, and it is nothing like it was when I got here. It has expanded hugely.
It’s only now we are seeing upmarket, modern apartment blocks being tabled and having the possibility of being profitable. Six years ago you wouldn’t have been able to do it, because no one would pay for an upmarket, sexy block in Hout Bay.’ The village atmosphere may be more of a reflection of a widely praised sense of community in the suburb. Spiro Ragavelas and his family moved from Johannesburg to Hout Bay, and earlier this year they opened Spiro’s, a popular Greek restaurant on Main Road. Sitting in the restaurant’s blue and white courtyard, Spiro says, ‘It’s more like a family-orientated village. On Sunday we had a street braai, and the whole street got together and all the children were playing. I had never done that in my life in Jo’burg. I didn’t even know my neighbours in Jo’burg for 10 years. It’s a different way of life here.’ Louise calls Hout Bay ‘a very community- driven village, where people are really actively involved, working together to keep crime and pollution at bay’, and adds that 97% of ratepayers are involved in the area’s recycling programme. The perennial popularity of Hout Bay among tourists revolves around its harbour, where, alongside the catches of tuna and crayfish that are regularly offloaded, tourists can take boat trips out into the bay, eat fish and chips, and watch a man trying to engineer a Cape seal into the sea with a shopping trolley. A high point is a visit to the beautifully restored Hout Bay Manor hotel, whose Pure restaurant serves locally sourced fusion cuisine in surroundings of almost monochromatic shades of putty and grey and decorated with Gregor Jenkin’s striking, oversize lamps and screens made of driftwood. Hout Bay’s origins lie in its ability to supply the Dutch settlers with timber from its plentiful sources, until its forests were quickly exhausted. It then became a supplier of fish, its ocean floor once described as being a ‘red blanket of crayfish’. Today, that too is a depleted resource, and the introduction of fishing quotas has left Hangberg’s fishermen facing a difficult future. The focus now is on that most precious of resources: land. The question of how land should be fairly distributed in this area, a place where the standard of living for white residents is no different to many other areas of Cape Town, yet brought into sharp relief because of the proximity to the overcrowded and impoverished conditions of their neighbours, is both urgent and, as a last resort, may only be decided by the courts.
Top left to right A walkway in the grounds of Hout Bay Manor; window-cleaning at the Hout Bay Gallery, where works by contemporary South African artists are displayed. Middle right Homes in Hout Bay with views across the Atlantic Ocean. The sea is frustratingly out of bounds due to high levels of E. coli. Bottom right A Hout Bay home. Today, houses in gated
With thanks to …
estates are much in demand in the suburb.
Hout Bay Civic Association, Greg Louw, +27 (0)73 954 1293 RE/MAX Properties, Louise Reister, +27 (0)21 791 7040, remax-prestige.co.za Residents’ Association Hout Bay, Len Swimmer, houtbay.org.za Seeff Properties, Stephan Ross, +27 (0)21 790 1032, seeff.com
Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more information
Spiro’s, Spiro Ragavelas, +27 (0)21 791 3897
on the top neighbourhoods in South Africa.
34 | February 2011
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DESIGN
Much has been made of the relative youth of Luke Pedersen and James Lennard, but there’s no denying their fresh look at form and function has timeless appeal.
‘We want to be known as a design house rather than carpenters.’ Luke Pedersen
36 | February 2011
DESIGN
YOUNG GUNS Words Vicki Sleet
Photographs Anth
ony Friend
‘OUR DESIGNS ARE ABOUT THE PLACE WHERE HAND MEETS MACHINE.’ James Lennard
Design duo James Lennard and Luke Pedersen have found a niche with their practical furniture designs, including the Bucket Stool (front), which has become practically iconic.
February 2011 | 37
DESIGN
m
eeting James Lennard and Luke Pedersen at Field Office, their new showroom and coffee stop in a gritty east city street, I find the industrial space a fitting stage for their contemporary, Scandi- influenced pieces, many of which feature an element of recycling. I recognise their iconic Bucket Stools from the get-go. They’re just as striking in real life as in the many pictures I’ve seen in local decor magazines, and Luke happily explains that the product has been developed in conjunction with a township- based metalworker who manufactures each zinc bucket by hand, delivering them by the bakkie load, ready for their reincarnation as a coveted style statement. The buckets have certainly helped the Pedersen + Lennard star to rise – it was the first product they released, and so far they have produced in excess of 200. In fact, a shipment bound for Paris has just left, says Luke. Sitting at a table that’s part of their Ingvar range (inspired by the designs of Swedish super-brand IKEA and named for its founder, Ingvar Kamprad, aka ‘the father of flat-pack furniture’), I get the low-down on these two 20-somethings who met at the then Cape Tech in the industrial design faculty, went their separate ways to travel and study abroad and met up again to hone their skills and create a workable business model and fully fledged design studio. Pedersen + Lennard was launched 18 months ago, and in a relatively short time
the duo has garnered an enthusiastic response from the marketplace, getting orders from architectural firms, hotel designers, retailers and a number of interiors experts keen to add a sense of pared-down chic and an element of surprise to the spaces they’ve conceived. ‘We’re still a little surprised at our relative success, but we’re pleased that our commitment to designing things our way is being met with such enthusiasm,’ says Luke, who is the ‘front of house’ arm of the business, with James something of a brainiac behind the scenes, devising computerised ways to eliminate wastage from laser-cutting and managing the manufacturing and production process in their Salt River factory.
explains Luke, the son of a practically minded pastor who bought his tool-mad son his first hacksaw at the age of two. Laughing, Luke says, ‘My mom used to collect all her broken appliances and take them with us on holiday. It would keep me busy for the whole time we were away.’ For James, with both his father and grandfather in architecture, his departure from the world of bricks and mortar was perhaps unexpected, but it has made all the difference. ‘I often ask my dad his opinion about different designs, and he has even started commissioning some of our work for different projects, so we’re connected on that level,’ says James who’s also spent time
‘There’s a distinctly utilitarian signature to their work, and a strong focus on clever storage solutions.’ The pair were group project partners during their studies, a time both spent immersing themselves in the how-tos of a myriad manufacturing processes, and though they have clearly defined roles in their business, they work closely together on the design and format of their products. ‘My family is originally from Denmark and James’s dad is an architect, so that probably explains the Scandinavian influence and the strong emphasis on form and function,’
in a forge learning the craft of metalwork in his desire to understand the process behind design rather than just the finished product. The pair started off as they mean to finish: first, they are committed to producing items that have some level of eco-pedigree, and though this can add to the price, they’re adamant that ‘made in China’ has no place in their world; second, they’re sticking to their guns. ‘We want to be known as a design house rather than carpenters,’ says Luke,
citing Michael Graves, Ross Lovegrove and Tom Dixon as inspirations. ‘Those designers are sought after because of their approach to design, and that’s how we’d like to be known,’ says Luke.. Their Ingvar range is an exercise in sustainable South African pine, while one of their newest offerings, the Elizabeth wardrobe, makes use of oriented strand board, usually a ‘behind the scenes’ product, but, says James, ‘we really liked the textured look of the wood and it’s great to work with – after a light sand it’s totally smooth and very beautiful’. There’s a distinctly utilitarian signature to their work, too, and a strong focus on clever storage solutions, no doubt also influenced by their ages. Like many of their contemporaries, they live in relatively small spaces, and finding furniture that’s both easy on the eye and hard working is no mean feat. ‘For transportation and practical reasons, a lot of our designs are flat-pack, which added a whole new design challenge to things which we really enjoyed. Our designs are about the place where hand meets machine and our challenge is to make this practically and financially viable,’ says James. Each of their 35 seating, lighting, storage and table designs is a neat, practical solution to an everyday problem. I imagine that in an increasingly complicated world, demand for such products will rise. Pedersen + Lennard couldn’t be more perfectly placed. pedersenlennard.co.za
Pedersen + Lennard’s designs have an unmistakably Scandinavian streak to them. Like IKEA, their furniture is at once simple, practical and beautiful. Among their furniture solutions are (from left): the Elizabeth wardrobe, made from oriented strand board; the plywood-based, Formica-topped Ingvar café table and dining chair; the Tree coat rack; a TV trolley; the unambiguously named Three Shelves; and the stunning, pared down Strand couch.
38 | February 2011
World’s Greenest Homes High style - low impact From temples of glass and steel, to palaces made from prssed earth and recycled blue jeans, World’s Greenest Homes 2 tours the most amazing properties on the planet - and proves that luxury and ecology can exist under the same roof. s -ON PM s 7ED AM s 3AT PM s 3UN PM PM PM
Lombardy DPS.pdf
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LOMBARDY ESTATE AND HEALTH SPA
THE ESTATE FOR ALL C
THE RIGHT REASONS
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Living in an upmarket family home the past 15 years, Marius van Schalkwyk and his family were happy. They had no need to move. Until of course one day Marius visited Lombardy Estate and Health Spa, saw the potential, saw the lifestyle and decided to not only buy a stand and build a home, but also invest in a second stand for good measure.
THIS PAGE, TOP: Surrounded by lakes, waterways and landscaped gardens, the Lake Lombardy boutique homes, Lombardy Fountains townhouses and large freestanding Stands of Lombardy Estate and Health Spa are unique in Pretoria. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Award-winning architectural firm Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen, and QTS Architects have created the perfect union of classic sensibilities and clean, modern lines. OPPOSITE, TOP: Marius van Schalkwyk's modern interpretation of master architect Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Prairie' style.
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irst it was the lifestyle that caught his attention. ‘Lombardy Estate was a refuge to be fitted with every modern convenience – the Health Spa operated by Spas of Distinction, 5-Star Boutique Hotel, Pavilion and village green, all set in a beautiful estate with a myriad of water features, lakes and evergreen gardens,’ says Marius. ‘The state-of-the-art security and harmony with nature translates into a life of freedom, not known to us before. Our children can enjoy the paved walkways and jogging trails and the beauty of the abundant indigenous fauna and flora is just out of this world.’ Lombardy Estate does feature an abundant bird and wildlife and more than 45 varieties of indigenous bushes, shrubs & flowers, with 40 permanently employed gardeners and
maintenance workers ensuring the designer landscaping is always in the best condition. Apart from the ‘country setting in the city atmosphere’ created, the architecture plays an important role in the overall lifestyle. It is a reinterpretation of master architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘Prairie’ style. Adapted for our modern age by award-winning local architect Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen, and QTS Architects, it is a style that makes the most of the abundant outside, drawing it into the spacious interiors. The look is modern, with straight horizontal and vertical lines, open balconies and verandas lending itself to outside living. Consisting of three separate product offerings, ranging from Lombardy Fountains – One, two & three-bedroom full-title townhouses ranging in size from 154m2 to 285m2, Lake Lombardy – Two & three-bedroom full-title boutique homes ranging between 280m2 and 364m2 to Lombardy Stands –
Freestanding properties ranging from 734m2 and up to 1950m2, Lombardy Estate and Health Spa caters for young professionals to families. The 100-hectare estate has seen some major progress over the past year, with owners and their families moving in and an influx of interested buyers making their way to Lombardy Estate. One of the homes in the estate has been featured twice in a leading glamour magazine and will soon feature on the magazine’s television show. The landscaping has similarly been featured in a leading industry magazine – validating the blossoming of an estate that is coming into its own. Backed by an international conglomerate – The Kharafi Group – who is also the developer behind the successful Oubaai Golf Estate in Herolds Bay, Lombardy Estate and Health Spa is set to make 2011 a stellar year.
For more information, please phone Ronél van der Linde on 082 787 9138, Donovan Lallyett on 082 940 9265 or Colette Schönborn on 082 457 5818, email info@lombardyestate.co.za or visit www.lombardyestate.co.za
www.lombardyestate.co.za
Townhouses from R975 000 | Boutique homes from R2.5m | Stands from R900 000 (Prices correct at date of submission to press.)
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Day-to-Day Luxury Malaysia offers a vibrant, exciting and world-class holiday experience without the usual stresses of international travel. Words Tony Vaughan Photographs courtesy YTL Hotels
42 | February 2011
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Opposite The architecture at Tanjong Jara Resort is based on that of ancient Malay palaces. This page A huge beachfront Anjung Room overlooking a private garden and the ocean.
‘The philosophy of the resort is as unique as the resort itself. It is based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being.’
February 2011 | 43
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Clockwise from top left The Nelayan Pool is adjacent to the beach, near the Spa Village; take an easy stroll along the pristine beach fringing the resort; the free-form pool by Teratai Terrace, where in the evening you may enjoy cocktails and a private dining experience and take in the views of the South China Sea; loungers and umbrellas entice guests to the pool, where refreshments are served at the pool deck.
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ave you ever stopped to think how tiring south-to-north travel is? Even if your budget allows a flat bed, it’s at most four hours of disturbed sleep. Sure, it’s the same time zone as South Africa (or close), but realistically you still feel whacked and weary for a couple of days. And have you then considered that you are leaving South Africa – with our beautiful, uncrowded coastline and affordable restaurants – to travel to a European destination that is more expensive, seriously crowded and often tacky? So when we were invited to visit Tanjong Jara Resort, on the east coast of Malaysia, and were sent the itinerary, I was immediately excited. A day flight – and you thought those were reserved for a Johannesburg to Cape Town hop or vice versa – fewer hours on- board than on a flight to Europe and the opportunity to get in some extra sleep
with a nap or two, after enjoying the amazing hospitality (read ‘wine’) provided by the Malaysian aircrew. Arriving early in the morning and after adjusting for the time zone difference, we found the idea of jet lag was as far from our senses as the smell of European fish and chips. After the short 45-minute flight to the resort (you may also opt for the luxurious 4-hour chauffeured drive through the beautiful countryside, with a stop or two to sample local delicacies) we arrived on the eastern side of Malaysia at Tanjong Jara Resort. Situated on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, between Kuala Terengganu in the north and Kuantan in the south, the resort itself is built on a 17ha site, some 8km west of the river town of Dungun. The staff greet you as though you were their only guest, after which they take you through the usual check- in procedures …
of course with a difference – a 15-minute back massage that makes swiping your credit card for the inevitable extras far less painful. Taken through the amazing gardens on the short walk to your suite, you see that you are perched alongside an amazing sandy beach with palm trees leaning towards the sea as if seeking a refreshing dip. As is often the case with Asian resorts, space is generous, from the balcony and bedroom to the living area and luxurious bathroom. With bedrooms finely appointed with luxury linen and those pillows that just keep on giving, you are treated to a suite experience to rival the best Europe has to offer – yet at a rate that is significantly more affordable, even for the South African rand. The resort offers 99 rooms designed in the architectural style of a typical 17th-century Malay palace, with clean lines, an emphasis on local woods and the employment of local traditional trades. The philosophy of the resort is as unique as the
resort itself. It is based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being. Authentic in the staff ’s extraordinary service and attitude – always warm and welcoming – it is an environment that allows you to let go, relax and take time to rediscover yourself. Dining doesn’t disappoint either, with several restaurants catering for your mood, appetite, time of day and location, from beach to pool to fine-dining venues. The Di Atas Sungai restaurant (the name is Malay for ‘Above the River’) offers an unconventional treat. There’s no menu. Guests are guided by the resort’s Menu Masters, experts in local cuisine, who provide a distinctive dining experience using only the freshest produce of the highest quality. Dragging ourselves from hammock or pillow, we returned to the airport and looked forward to our return journey – this time a night flight – and to lying back and dreaming of our next Eastern excursion.
All about YTL Tony travelled and stayed courtesy of YTL Hotels, a group that offers magical boutique experiences in Bali, Phuket, Malaysia, China, Japan and the South of France. These idyllic destinations fall within the ‘Private Client’ listing of The Roving Ambassador/Tourism Corporation Africa. The company’s preferred tour operators offering packages to YTL Destinations include: Thompsons Holidays, Sure Tours and Travel with Flair. The Roving Ambassador, +27 (0)21 426 0991, therovingambassador.co.za
44 | February 2011
THE CHIVAS PROPERTY DINNER
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Words Jackie Gray Photographs Natalie Payne
The exquisite Punchinello’s at Southern Sun Montecasino played host to the Chivas Readers Property Dinner in December.
Ending the year
IN STYLE
he evening kicked off with introductions, champagne and much mingling, after which Media Nova Group Sales Director Shanee Smart thanked guests for attending and invited them to enjoy an informal evening of fine food, fine company and, of course, fine Chivas whisky. I found myself seated between sparring partners Ryan Illgner and Alan Fittinghoff, who bantered good-naturedly. Alan is Barrow Flooring’s sales manager and Ryan is a director at Blacksmith Interior Inspiration, the design company charged with outfitting both Southern Sun Montecasino hotel and its restaurant, Punchinello’s. According to Ryan, Punchinello’s derives its name from a 16th-century Italian puppet – the forerunner of England’s Punch and Judy. Blacksmith Interior Inspiration has translated the restaurant’s theme into a contemporary Venetian theatre of food, complete with open-plan gourmet kitchen. Silver gilt mirrors, reclaimed French oak floors, sparkling chandeliers and bespoke Punchinello caricatures are just a few of the eye-catching elements of the restaurant. A particularly innovative feature is the dedicated kitchen camera that lets hotel guests tune in and watch the unfolding magic worked by the celebrity chefs – of whom several have demonstrated their skills at Punchinello’s since its opening in May 2010. The food lived up to its surroundings. For starters, guests could choose between delectable sautéed prawns with basil aglio olio or the Mediterranean meze. White pilchards, mini potted frittata, onion marmalade, bruschetta and focaccia, mussels, sun-dried tomato, heady cheeses, salmon and asparagus rolls, Parma ham and tiny dished portions of beef carpaccio, strawberry and blue cheese were just a few of the mouth-watering nibbles to be had. Ryan explained how he is ‘going green’ on a current project and has challenged each of his construction consultants to procure preferably reclaimed materials – including timber and rebar – from sources close to the building site in a bid to reduce his construction carbon footprint. Happily, he will be using all manner of green technologies throughout his home, including grey-water systems, heat exchange pumps, solar geysers, gravity pumps and CFL lighting, and incorporating separate recycling depots and a number of found furnishings.
Guest list Candice Bailey Media Nova, Alan Fittinghoff Barrow Flooring, Jackie Gray Media Nova, Andrew Harding IBM, Ryan Illgner Blacksmith Interior Inspiration, Frank Jin China Direct, Antonio and Kerry Lopes Tennant Life Benefits, Dianne Lubbe New Media Publishing, Tammy Menton Kent Gush Properties, Conrad Nolte, Anele Ndamase Chivas, Zuki Ndungane Chivas, Belinda Prinsloo, Shanee Smart Media Nova, Nicholas Wallander Nokia Siemens Networks, Brett Wood Salesguru
February 2011 | 45
the chivas Property Dinner
The Menu Starter Meze buffet Mains Grilled line fish fillet OR Pink peppercorn crust beef fillet OR Vegetarian option (risotto) Dessert Gelato
1
OR Grand Marnier Torte Punchinello’s Southern Sun Montecasino, Montecasino Boulevard, Montecasino Entertainment Complex, Fourways +27 (0)11 367 4367, southernsun.com
Post starters, Chivas Brand Ambassador Zuki Ndungane explained how Chivas came to be one of the world’s most popular whiskies. In 1801 the Chivas Brothers first opened the doors of their gourmet food emporium in Aberdeen, Scotland. Later, James Chivas began to lay down casks of fine Scotch whisky in the shop’s cellar to mature. And so came about Chivas whisky, with the Chivas Brothers’ fame spreading and Queen Victoria awarding the brothers a number of warrants to supply the royal household with provisions and, of course, whisky. Chivas has since been the drink of whisky connoisseurs the world over. Drifting across to the other end of the table, I was drawn into a humorous discussion between Andrew Harding of IBM – an Australian – and Nicholas Wallander of Nokia Siemens Networks about the love/hate relationship that exists between South Africans and Australians. The main course arrived at this juncture. Guests could take their pick of line fish and couscous, beef fillet rolled in a pink peppercorn crust or mushroom risotto. Needless to say, all were well received. Andrew remarked that he had noticed Jo’burg residents tend to spend more time commuting to work than their Australian counterparts. Nicholas explained that until now the lack of First World transport options had largely dictated this trend. ‘However, the Gautrain and the introduction of highway toll roads is changing this scenario,’ he added.
46 | February 2011
6
7
10 ‘Given the high cost of tolls, many commuters will opt to use the Gautrain in future. The transport overhaul is also impacting property purchase habits to some extent. For instance, properties situated within close proximity of Gautrain terminals are selling particularly well, and an inner-city boom of sorts is expected to occur once Johannesburg Park Station comes online.’ Dessert and a discussion with Tammy Menton of Kent Gush Properties were
next on the menu. (Two dessert options were available to guests – gelato or a Grand Marnier Torte. Both were wickedly decadent and made for a fitting end to a truly gastronomic meal.) Kent Gush Properties got off to a flying start just over a year ago. The company has since launched seven upmarket developments successfully and is set to market a further six in the starting months of 2011. Tammy attributes the company’s success to its ability
11 to position properties in such a way as to appeal to their relevant markets. Indeed, so strong is Kent Gush in this regard that many a developer’s product has been completely repositioned by the company to suit a target market. Bolstering Nicholas’s comments, Echoing Nicholas, Tammy added that Kent Gush’s corporate developments located around Gautrain terminals have proven highly popular and that these nodes have yet to reach their full potential.
the chivas Property Dinner
2
3
4
5
Belinda Prinsloo, Shanee Smart, Dianne Lubbe 2Jackie Gray 3Antonio Lopes 4Candice Bailey
1
Tammy Menton 6Tammy Menton, Brett Wood 7Frank Jin 8Nicholas Wallander 9Brett Wood,
5
Conrad Nolte 10Zuki Ndungane 11Kerry Lopes 12Anele Ndamase 13Andrew Harding 14Ryan Illgner, Alan Fittinghoff
8
9
12 Tammy was positive about prospects for 2011. ‘Developers are being realistic, banks are easing their lending criteria and foreign investment in South African property has increased significantly. What more could one ask for a successful year ahead?’ Conversation around the table ranged from diving in Seychelles and Christmas holiday plans to property hits and misses. Alan reckoned certain developers still tend to cut corners to some extent, and
13 Conrad Nolte joked that he has a knack for bad property investments. South African-born New Yorker Belinda Prinsloo drew some interesting comparisons between living in the Big Apple and living in this country, while Antonio Lopes of Tennant Life Benefits shared his insights into Mauritius’s offshore property market. The evening proved most enjoyable – a fitting end to a challenging yet overall prosperous year.
14 Chivas Regal For connoisseurs there is only one whisky: Chivas Regal. The iconic brand is available in over 200 countries, selling one bottle every second, worldwide. Globally recognised as the ultimate premium-blended Scotch whisky, Chivas Regal sets the standard of excellence for all distilled spirits. Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky is smooth, round and full-bodied. On the tongue it has a richness that is honeyed and yet slightly smoky, and a long finish. Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky is a Pernod-Ricard brand. +27 (0)21 880 8800, pernod-ricard.co.za
ASK THE EXPERTS
We invited the top professionals in interior design to divulge this year’s hottest trends.
watch this space 48 | February 2011
ASK THE EXPERTS
Photographs Paul Shiakallis Hair and make-up Kelli Fuchs and Lyn Kennedy Shot on location Southern Sun Hyde Park Sandton | southernsun.com
February 2011 | 49
ASK THE EXPERTS
dhk { } thinkspace
AMANDA LANDERS INTERIORS
SUCCULENT DECOR
DOLCE VITA DESIGNS
Adéle Maritz, Project Manager
Amanda Landers, Owner
Anisa du Plessis, Owner
Bianca Suttner, Director
What makes your company one of the best in the business? dhk { } thinkspace is a client-focused, design-driven company. We translate the client’s culture into dynamic interiors and offer a turnkey service with effective project management and cost control systems that ensure each project is completed to the highest standard, within budget and on time. Tell us about the most exciting projects you’re currently working on. We are currently working with Cell C on its new 11 000m2 call centre in Parktown, Johannesburg. By taking its unique requirements and exciting new brand into consideration, we are completing a world-class facility. What are the most popular interior design trends? Currently the trends are collaborative spaces offering mobility and flexibility, moving away from traditional offices and meeting spaces. The focus is on sustainability and reinventing current environments to be more space-efficient. I see design trends moving towards synergy between people, space and technology. We foresee more experimentation with materials and multifunctional forms. To move forward, we need to return to the simple essence of design and push the boundaries of traditional applications of materials and space. There is no doubt that design will always be true to multi-functionality and innovative forms.
What makes your company one of the best in the business? I have 16 years’ experience in the interior design field, having done work in many parts of the world and all corners of Africa, in both commercial and domestic environments. I have worked on numerous large-scale projects, with many different mediums and styles. I listen carefully to my clients and transform their dreams into their perfect environment. Tell us about the most exciting projects you’re currently working on. I am working on a gorgeous home. The original home was knocked down and a more modern home has been built in its place, with a lot of large windows and big glass doors allowing the garden to come inside. It’s a double storey with a lot of double-volume areas, creating space and light. The interior is light and modern; I have used teals and greens, neutrals and charcoals, with hints of reds or yellows. What are the most popular interior design trends? I feel a move towards natural fabrics and products, a more sophisticated look and the use of beautifully made products. Clients should focus on buying good pieces of furniture and using beautiful fabrics, and should not forget that art is always one of the best investments for their homes. Being eco-friendly and conscious of your carbon footprint is extremely important right now.
What makes your company one of the best in the business? Decorating should be individualistic and should not take a ‘one size fits all’ approach. What makes us unique is our style and our creativity. Our team prides itself on its approach towards its clients and on how we manage our wonderful, quirky decor store in Pretoria. We are continually designing new and different furniture pieces for our store and looking for new ways to express our creativity – and our clients love this. We make an effort to create a unique space for all clients. Tell us about the most exciting projects you’ve worked on. Last year we did a very exciting project for a prominent individual in SA (we can’t mention names) that was a truly inspiring and challenging project that left all of us in awe. Every project is exciting – but one particular projects stands out. A very special nine-year-old client walked into our shop with her mom and gave us the brief for her bedroom. Not only was this project fun, but this little girl stretched our imagination and took us into avenues never explored before What are the most popular interior design trends? Wallpaper and unique wall finishings remain a firm favourite. Home-grown and South African products are also extremely popular, including some of the wonderful local fabrics – we find a real patriotism towards South African art and products.
What makes your company one of the best in the business? My passion for creating space. My desire to be the best in the design industry. My faith in the Almighty. Tell us about the most exciting projects you’ve worked on. I was appointed by a renowned art supplier in the interior design and decorating industry to design their apartment in the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel & Residence in Green Point, Cape Town. I am honoured to have been selected by a colleague in the industry to create a solution for his personal space, knowing that he deals with renowned designers on a daily basis. What are the most popular interior design trends? I don’t follow trends but I understand them and am not naive to what the market is currently dictating. However, my client sets the trend and if it’s not my client it’s the architect. I use my client’s desires or the architect’s plans as my canvas. My client is investing in me and my creativity, trusting me to create a space that is private and comfortable. On completion of each project I have created my own trend, inspiring my client to employ me in assisting him or her live the ‘good life’ again, setting a new trend. Describe your dream interior design project. I have many dream interiors yet to design. I dream of designing each room in a boutique hotel with a different theme, in my signature style.
+27 (0)11 684 1234 | dhkthinkspace.co.za
+27 (0)82 8080 349 | alanders@mweb.co.za
+27 (0)12 997 2181 | anisa@succulentco.co.za
+27 (0)82 308 1653 | dolcevitadesigns@mweb.co.za
50 | February 2011
ASK THE EXPERTS
dhk { } thinkspace
GIANT LEAP WORKSPACE SPECIALISTS
Guido Tagge, Director
Linda Trim, Director
What makes your company one of the best in the business? My goal is to always make the client feel comfortable, emphasising their needs, their comfort and their dreams. I like to make a house an expressive portrait of its residents and therefore do not adhere to a particular style. Tell us about the most exciting interior design projects you’ve worked on. A commission that I have just completed very successfully was the furnishing of a house on Australia’s Gold Coast. It was all worked off plan, photographs and the measurements supplied by the client, so I never left South Africa. It was a challenge, but as I know the client quite well I found it easy to source the right products, namely fabrics, carpets, lighting and a wide range of furniture and unusual decorative items. What are the most popular interior design trends? Having just returned from the trade shows in Italy, I can say that almost anything goes. The Extreme Silver Age is coming to an end. Metallic is still big, with bronze and gold appearing again. The citrus colours are still in, but neutrals are always popular. Elements such as coral, ‘reptiles’ and anything eco-friendly. Describe your dream project. I am sure it is the same for everyone: to have a ‘no budget limit’ project with the most exciting house, and to present it, complete, as a huge, successful surprise to the client.
What makes your company one of the best in the business? I believe we have a balance between creativity, design approach and execution as the foundation for successful projects. We strive to provide the highest standards of design and professionalism throughout all phases of our service. From taking a client’s brief through to delivering a completed project, on time and in budget, we actively focus our efforts on correctly interpreting the client’s requirements, designing solutions that integrate such requirements with the appropriate design responses. Tell us about the most exciting projects you’re working on. Amongst others, we have recently completed the refurbishment of the new Planet Restaurant (previously Cape Colony) at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town and are currently working on a large, innovative call centre for Cell C in Parktown, Johannesburg. What are the most popular interior design trends? In my travels, the current trends I’ve seen move towards the clever use of sustainable and functional raw materials/products that have been reinterpreted in function and application. In the next few years, high-tech will meet natural materials even more. Expect your MacBook to have a renewable timber case soon!
What makes your company one of the best in the business? Giant Leap is a commercial interior architectural practice with a focus on designing and building winning workplaces for corporates with diverse workforces. We deliver an end-to-end solution that not only looks incredible but also offers a high-performance, sustainable environment. This keeps companies ahead of the pack, supports their culture, attracts top talent, integrates technology and drives efficiencies forward. Tell us about the most exciting project you’re currently working on. Neotel is a project we have been involved with for the past 18 months. We have transformed and refurbished an old building into an iconic campus for them, created a variety of working spaces and assisted them in planning a museum. What are the most popular interior design trends? After a great trip to ORGATEC, we have come back with the latest colours and trends in furniture. With regards to offices, ergonomics, mobility and configurability are huge. And it’s not just furniture that’s changing – it’s also the organisational structure, technological connectivity, teamwork, ‘free address’ systems and telecommuting. An important factor is to save space without sacrificing functionality. Green design is also on the up, given the high cost of electricity and services.
+27 (0)83 263 1177 | thealstons@mweb.co.za
+27 (0)21 425 9568 | guido@dhkthinkspace.co.za
+27 (0)11 880 1490 | giantleap.co.za
THE DESIGN PARTNERSHIP
DESIGN FOR LIVING
Callie van der Merwe, Co-Founder, Partner & Director
Gisela Alston, Founder, Owner & Director
Tell us about the most exciting interior design projects that you’re currently working on or have completed in the past year. As a company we have three separate and independent business units, each headed by one of the partners. They include Architecture & Corporate Interiors, Retail & Hospitality and Branding. Each has had a jewel of a year. We have just completed a R20-million house in Johannesburg, the Disney and PlayStation retail additions to Toys R Us and various brand components for Wimpy. We have almost completed the Riverside food court and have the revamp and upgrade of Musgrave Shopping Centre on the home straight. How do these projects exemplify your company’s approach to delivering interior design solutions? Our interventions lean more toward business solutions, using design as one of the tools to deliver on this promise. Most importantly, our interventions look at consumer behaviour and sales drivers and at how we can best effect purchase decisions. In retail design, products should naturally follow trends, so if one succeeds in highlighting the product by stripping the retail environment of all components that do not add to this focus, then the store environment should have an extended shelf life. For corporate interiors, we look at how we can best impress the core brand values on all users of the space.
+27 (0)12 460 2016 | designpartnership.co.za
February 2011 | 51
ASK THE EXPERTS
HEAD INTERIORS
WANDA MICHELLE INTERIORS (WMI)
Richard Shaw, Associate
Wanda-Michelle Erasmus, Director
What makes your company one of the best in the business? Head Interiors has been successfully operating within the interior design industry for more than 25 years. I think this speaks for itself – showing that we have a well-grounded business, a passion for design and commitment to our clients. Tell us about the most exciting projects you’ve completed in the past year. We have completed a number of exciting projects, ranging from highend residential to corporate projects, such as the newly completed head office for a platinum-mining company in Sandton. What are the most popular interior design trends? Following the design movements in Europe and the world, sustainable design is still one of the central themes and green design interiors are in high demand. Apart from modern, clean-line furniture, which is still current, vintage-style furniture is becoming popular again. There is also a preference for sculptural shapes in furniture, for instance armchairs used as contrasting accentuating pieces. High-quality natural fibres, such as wool, felt and even bamboo fibre are in. Real artisan craftsmanship is also much sought after. The term ‘multifunction’ in bespoke furniture is the order of the day, inviting interaction through technology, mechanisms and gadgets. Light timbers such as ash wood are still current.
What makes your company one of the best in the business? Our slogan is ‘Defining Self Within’. We strive to interpret our client’s unique style, adding the polish of balance, flow, warmth and versatility that is our signature. We are known for creating environments that are at once peaceful, healing, uplifting and energising. Tell us about the most exciting project you’ve completed in the past year. We’ve just completed a high-end domestic renovation and decor project that allowed us incredible freedom of design, with an outstanding final result. The client has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industrial design sector and although this is his own home he allowed the project to develop naturally. What are the most popular interior design trends? Space-saving has become top of the agenda for easy, accessible living. In 2010 we made use of multifunctional foldaway products in order to attain comfortable living and personal space, and we’ll continue to do so this year. I love accent lighting by Aqua Creations. Their application is sophisticated and elegant but funky at the same time, and adds incredible visual impact. I see 2011 bringing uncluttered spaces, sumptuous woods, mirror and Duco in clean, warm, sophisticated combinations with quirky touches of coral and neons.
+27 (0)11 325 2700 | richards@headinteriors.com
+27 (0)83 233 2981 | wanda@wmi.co.za
52 | February 2011
Glenmorangie, widely revered as one of the greatest creators of super premium single malt whiskies, has unveiled Signet, their most innovative and luxurious single malt whisky to date. Signet is all about unseen attention to detail and superior quality. The design-led bottle is graduated in colour in order to best display the deep amber liquid contained within. The sleek curved design may follow modern lines but remains true to the brand’s heritage. The intricate emblem symbolises the depth and complexity of the whisky, and combines with the eye-catching metallic lid to produce an iconic new look. Glenmorangie Signet has broken away from the traditional packaging and methods of whisky creation by reinventing convention, resulting in a true masterpiece.
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workplace
Words Anne Schauffer Photographs Angela Buckland
The
workhouse This dockside warehouse exudes a raw energy that’s part history, part blood, sweat and tears. Ogilvy Durban harnessed it, with a little help from some friends.
54 | February 2011
WORKPLACE
P
oint Road. Mahatma Gandhi Drive. There it is, up there on the left – a long, thin, vertical slice of blood-red paint encasing a black door. It’s Ogilvy’s advertising agency in Durban. Opposite are the docks, with all the complex fascination they hold for us – people and goods constantly on the move, massive ships manoeuvring into the port, the thuggish power of tugs, the odd pleasure boat, cars and containers, familiar names and foreign flags. It’s mesmerising. Of course, all of this could be a major distraction for the Ogilvy team upstairs, where vast windows facing onto this ever-changing scene invite in the light as much as they do this naval filmstrip; but it isn’t. It’s part of who they are, where they are. For the designers of this workspace, it was essential to integrate the agency into the environment rather than take a voyeuristic stance, so they’ve retained, even accentuated, much of the warehouse.The docks are clearly the inspiration behind the design. Ogilvy has always been up and around the Berea. With the expiration of the branch’s lease in Berea (King Dinizulu) Road and the team’s weariness of what they
drily term ‘urban decay’, the recurring breaches of security to person and property, MD John Gale juggled the wave of office options, then: ‘What about the Point?’ What about it? Fact is, much as the ratepayers and investors would like it to be different, few are progressive enough to commit to this precinct. The Point hasn’t quite lost its ‘Hell Run’ image, even though, ironically, it has an impressive safety record. Age-old perceptions die hard, but John was prepared to entertain the prospect. As Greg Dry of commissioned designers, Egg Designs, says, ‘The basic idea was not to be a typical ad agency’. So the Point worked for them on that level. It also offered creative, expanded spatial opportunities, a significant factor in their decision to move. John’s initial impression of the building was simple: ‘Very decrepit old warehouse
Opposite Enter the heart of the agency – still the vast warehouse, but with a quirky, functional layout to suit its new needs. This page, top left to right Ogilvy red; container offices inset with glass so as to retain the open-plan concept, invite in the light, yet provide quiet, private corners. Middle Up the staircase from Mahatma Gandhi Road. Below Neat staff lockers with one of Ogilvy’s out-of-the-box mottoes.
February 2011 | 55
workplace
Above left Angles, lines and shapes accentuated by the strength of the light flooding in from the harbourside. Bottom left to right It’s all in the detail; playtime at Ogilvy, as MD John Gale tries his hand at foosball; found dismembered under the stairs, he has been reconstructed and given a new lease of life.
with potential. The clincher was the staircase coming up off the street. We loved that.’ It was 2008 when Egg Designs began its relationship with the warehouse. ‘Obviously the building is king – it’s a listed one – and we addressed the interior space primarily from the location of the building within its surroundings.’ The warehouse was largely a vast vacuum, and Egg avoided the predictable choice of carving up the space with drywalling, partitions and carpet tiles. Both John and Greg are the first to admit that the global economic meltdown affected the budget dramatically. The essence of Egg’s initial concept is clearly there, but the detail has been pared down. In a sense, a smaller chequebook forced Egg Designs to think outside the box. In addition, Ogilvy International had just circulated a memo about upping the agency’s green consciousness, so recycling and reworking existing materials fitted everybody’s bill. As Greg says, ‘For us, it’s always about concept first, so that didn’t alter – it was about the location. The fact that the building is set in that old part of Point Road, with its chequered history, was the springboard for design.’The boardroom is a case in point.The location inspired a rather opulent boudoir or bordello, a dominant lifestyle element of the area – rich red curtaining and floral carpets with scroll-feminine copper-plated furniture details are a quirky surprise for clients. John’s ‘very dilapidated’ translated into the building’s requiring a new roof and some means of filling the huge holes in the floor.‘It would have been easy to lay carpet tiles,’ says Greg,‘but the need to express the honesty and
history of the building was more important. Old planks were sourced and holes filled with resins. They aren’t perfect, but that’s part of the charm. We selected certain walls to chip and expose the brickwork, which not only added warmth but also exposed the history behind the layers of plasterwork.’ The facade overlooks the docks and harbour, providing the impetus for Egg Designs’ bringing the outdoors in. Containers were installed as offices within the warehouse. ‘We used packaging pallets and crates, stripped the nails and screws, machined the timbers and laminated them to make tabletops, seating, desks, reception counters and so on – all old, yet new. We sourced weathered old doors as boardroom doors, and the office chairs are inside shells left exposed and raw,’ explains Greg. He enjoys the term ‘reductionist approach’. Egg Designs worked closely with John to determine the flow of this double-storey, double-volume space, effectively describing how an agency functions – 36 people in about 780m2. Integrated into the design is generous chill space, from the long refectory table and pub to the deck at the rear of the building and the rooftop deck, which begs for a 360º party to match the view. The space is vast and open, cleverly skirting an open-plan environment, and providing privacy without overt barriers. Light pours in, iconic Egg Design pieces swing or sing, ships pass in the night and day and, of course, Apples are everywhere. On so many levels, Ogilvy’s got the point. +27 (0)31 334 5600, ogilvy.co.za; +27 (0)31 783 4953, eggdesigns.co.za
‘For the designers of this workspace, it was essential to integrate the agency into the environment rather than take a voyeuristic stance, so they’ve retained, even accentuated, much of the warehouse.’
56 | February 2011
T ES U G R O IT ED L el Ra itt ev
Real estate
residential, commercial, auction, property funds, offshore, green building
AHEAD
It’s going to be a tough year, but keen investors should keep their eyes on properties below the R1-million mark.
T
he good news is that many of Auction Alliance’s predictions for 2010 were spot on. In December 2009 we stated that 2010 would be a tale of two halves – pre- and post-World Cup. And so it proved to be. First quarter results were significantly up as buyer sentiment was heightened by the upcoming event. Despite high levels of crime and a still-shaky economy, South Africa proved the sceptics wrong.
Many people predicted a glory period for property sales after the World Cup, but not us. We said that the second half of the year would be more challenging, that house price growth would be limited, with complications left by the last decade’s property boom still lingering. Again, if one looks backs at the year, this prediction turned out to be correct. In 2011 the greatest challenge for the auction industry will be to refocus on a buyer’s market still constrained by
Leisure residential properties at the coast, on golf courses and in other non- urban areas will also remain flat, with several properties being sold at auction below replacement value. Next year two pieces of legislation may have a major impact on the auction sector. The Consumer Protection Act will change a wide range of issues with regards to the auction process, mandates and sales processes; these are all designed to look after the consumer’s interests. The new Companies Act will also have a material effect, with the introduction of business recovery. This may cause an initial slowdown in liquidations as companies go through the business recovery process. The commercial property market will become two-tiered. Good properties with strong covenants and reliable cash flow will experience a surge in demand as investors look to place their cash in areas that achieve greater returns than bank deposits. Blocks of flats, retail property and key industrial sites will form the strongest part of the market. The office market will remain mild but A-grade properties in prime locations will attract strong demand on the auction floor. The auction industry will continue to grow in 2011 as sellers see it as a viable option to secure realistic offers in a difficult property market. +27 (0)21 443 6000, auction.co.za
CEO, Auction Alliance February 2011 | 57
Photograph Sam Norval
The rocky road
a shortage of demand and an oversupply of non- income- producing properties. As the country gets used to a long, hard and bumpy recovery, the economic headwinds will still be strong and unemployment rates alarmingly high. While the lowest interest rates in 30 years will boost sentiment and cause a bounce in properties with reliable cash flow, the favourable interest rate environment won’t be a magic pill that quickly relieves the downturn. Finding the right buyers at auctions and getting funding will remain challenging. Business confidence will be dependent on a host of local and international issues, including fears of a potential sovereign debt crisis in Europe. High-value bankruptcies will level off through the year, presenting opportunistic purchasing like never before seen in South Africa. As liquidators and banks offload bad debts and an oversupply of development land, a sweet spot will emerge for investors with access to financing as they pick up these assets at bargain prices. The residential property market will remain flat for most of the year, with a stronger recovery at entry level. Investors will snap up properties below the R1- million mark, which for the first time in many years will provide stronger returns than cash in the bank. The middle market will remain flat for some time as it deals with oversupply in newer residential areas. The luxury residential market across the country will remain sluggish all year, with little help from interest rates and a strong rand constraining international demand.
real estate Residential
Marina life
Even with an oversupply of property in the greater Jeffreys Bay area, erven sales in Marina Martinique, just 5km away, are increasing steadily, with 11 successful transfers having been completed since the beginning of 2010. The developer, C-Max Investments, is currently developing Bermuda Cove, a low-density development comprising 174 erven. ‘Marina Martinique has always been known for its security and very attractive lifestyle experience. It is a family holiday destination par excellence and remains one of the safest holiday options in the country,’ says C-Max Investments MD James Hinton. Also within Marina Martinique is the recently completed La Caribe development. La Caribe comprises 60 two-bedroom units, each with a full bathroom, a dining room/kitchen/living area and a balcony. According to Vernon Heunis, general manager of the Marina Martinique Home Owners’ Association, the development has set a new standard in secure marina living. ‘Marina Martinique creates a magic factor, a sense of belonging for everyone living here,’ he says. ‘Even though a large percentage of our landowners is comprised of holidaymakers, or seasonal inhabitants of the houses in the development, they all have a home away
residentia l
fact:
‘The lowest interest rates in 30 years are boosting buyer sentiment, and will cause a bounce in property prices.’
– Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance
The safe, 44m-w canals are perfecide t for family fun.
Courtesy of mblimaging.co.za
from home at Marina Martinique.’ +27 (0)42 292 0537, marinamartinique.co.za
On the bay Rialto Bay is a new luxury beachfront apartment development in Strand in the Cape. Developed by Invest Afrique in association with LKC Investment Holdings, Rialto Bay has 24 upmarket two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, priced from R1,59-million (including VAT). The apartments range from 97m2 to 230m2 in size and feature magnificent views, quality finishes (including granite kitchen counters and vanity tops, carpeted bedrooms and porcelain-tiled floors in the living area and kitchen), entertainment balconies with built-in braai, security and on-site parking. Just 30 minutes from the city centre, Strand offers all the required amenities, from good schools, malls and clinics to retail outlets and a vibrant nightlife, all within a tranquil setting. +27 (0)21 424 4325, lkcholdings.co.za
Never a dull moment Developed by Frank Gawenda of Gavcon and marketed by Pam Golding Properties (PGP), Angler’s Court, in Dullstroom, comprises five stylish, fully furnished private suites. ‘These brand-new units are well priced, with three units available R1,05- million plus transfer duty,’ says PGP Area Principal Elisme Swart. Other features of the development include secure, gated access and a boundary wall. A Jacuzzi is also being installed. ‘Because these units provide upmarket, luxury accommodation, they will be rented out at R450/person per night on weekends. That is comparable to other luxury accommodation in Dullstroom,’ says Elisme. Buyers may block their units for leisure purposes and rent out them out the rest of the time. +27 (0)13 254 0205, pamgolding.co.za
58 | February 2011
Compiled by Tidi Benbenisti
for purchase at R820 000 plus transfer duty and the other two units priced at
Residential REAL ESTATE
Your Move Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty’s Executive Director, Ya’el Geffen It’s a new year, and the question on most property enthusiasts’ lips is, how will the market fare this year? Our observation is that things are looking up, and there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the residential property market. Our figures reveal a substantial increase in sales volumes – already 30% up on last year. The good news is that those professionals who never suffered retrenchments or salary cuts as a result of the global financial crisis are
Artful lifestyle
returning to the market. Chartered accountants, engineers, doctors, bankers and other
Seeff Sandton has on its books a fully furnished luxury home that includes in the sales price of R25-million
professionals are upgrading and purchasing
an impressive international collection of artworks by Picasso, Henry Moore and Irma Stern, a wine collection
homes averaging about R2,4-million.
and two luxury vehicles (Ferrari and MG). ‘This is a first for us – having a whole lifestyle to sell, everything
If you look at the numbers closely, specifically
of ultra- luxurious quality,’ Angela Edy and Courtenay de Carcenac from Seeff Sandton comment. The
in the professional market, the banks are
double- storey Parktown home is set on almost 4 000m2 of mature, landscaped hillside, and while it has been
rejecting a mere 4% of mortgage applications, as
totally refurbished, it still retains all the charm of yesteryear, they add. Superb entertainment options include a
compared to 15% last year. Nationally, this is in
formal dining room and eat-in designer kitchen, a sheltered patio and poolside view-site terrace with a summer
the R2,4-million average price bracket.
house. The formal rooms feature Japanese maple wall panelling, among other magnificent details. The garden
However, the numbers are looking bleak in
is one part lush oasis, with water features tucked under the trees, and one part mountain, with old stone steps
the lower price brackets, where almost 50% of
leading right up to the ridge. +27 (0)11 784 1222, seeff.com
bank loan applications are being rejected. Sales volumes are increasing across the country, as people have seen a window of
Alberton sees steady growth
opportunity to enter the market. There is no doubt that the banks have also come to the party
Jenny de Necker, broker/owner of RE/MAX All
by relaxing their credit approval policies, and
Stars, expects the new industrial development
this is contributing to the improvement in the
(including the Heineken brewery) to the south of
property market. The only thing still inhibiting the
Alberton to have a positive impact on the area’s
growth in the market is the National Credit Act,
property market. She foresees steady growth in
which is still a hurdle for some people. That said,
property values and sales over the next 12 to 18
the buying momentum is there! This is also a good time for first-time buyers
months. Jenny says entry-level homes are selling for between R500 000 and R600 000 and
to enter the property market, as banks are now
typically have two to three bedrooms. Mid-level
willing to even give 100% mortgages once again,
homes are usually set on large stands, comprise
provided the client passes the means test.
three to four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two garages and a swimming pool, and average between R1-million and R1,5- million. The most
Excellent prospects in the Parks
The other evidence of an improving market is the increase in footfall at show houses. We are starting to see an increasing number of people
expensive homes, priced from R2,5-million, are
The family-friendly suburbs of Parkview and
attending show days again. During the financial
in Alberante and Meyersdal. RE/MAX All Stars is
Parkwood in northern Johannesburg are proving
crisis, we would put on show 100 houses and only
marketing the landmark building, La Montanara,
prime areas. With sought-after schools within walking
get a 7% return; today that return is 20%!
a much-loved wedding venue in the heart of old
distance and essential services, such as medical and
Alberton. +27 (0)11 907 6275, remax.co.za
retail facilities, in close proximity, the suburbs jointly
growth rate, at 7,7%, is now ahead of inflation,
represent the best residential investment opportunity
putting it once again into positive territory.
in Jo’burg, says Vered Area Specialist Michael Flinn.
In addition to this, the top-end market price
My projection is for the residential property
Parkview and Parkwood present homebuyers with
market to grow in value by between 8% and 10%
the opportunity to either restore houses to their
this year.
original art deco glory or renovate and modernise
Ultimately, I remain very bullish about the
them. Michael notes that, over the past several
property market’s growth prospects for this
months, entry-level houses that have not been
year, as we are likely to see conservative growth
renovated have sold for between R1,9-million and
momentum sustained.
R5,2-million. In Parkview the figures are slightly higher,
This is certainly the time to buy! Wishing you
with properties selling for between R2,3-million and
a peaceful and productive year ahead.
R6,4- million. These higher prices can be attributed to
Until next month!
Parkview’s larger stands. 0861 483 733, vered.co.za
Ya’el
real estate Commercial
Hanglip service A 309ha industrial park in the Lephalale region in
Commercia l
fact: The design
will tone for the expaset the of the Mandela nsion Bay Met area.
Limpopo Province is set to break ground in the second quarter of 2011. Developed by PDC Holdings, Hanglip Industrial Park will be situated in the industrial corridor between the Medupi and Matimba power stations, near the Grootegeluk coal mine. Area Principal for Pam Golding Properties Ellisras, Assis Pontes, says Phase 1 comprises 82 stands of between 5 000m2 and 18 000m2, with prices averaging R610/ m2 (including VAT). ‘Hanglip Industrial Park is aimed at industries that provide services and goods to mainly construction, energy and mining industries as well as industrial end users. There are opportunities to let industrial space, and these will be tailor made to client requirements,’ says Assis. The development is also an ideal investment for owner- occupiers, Assis adds. Commenting on the residential market, Assis says 10 sectional-title complexes have sprung up in the past year, with buy-to-let investors driving demand. The most popular units are priced at R662 000, generating a guaranteed rental income of R6 5000/ month, says Assis. +27 (0)14 763 1242, pamgolding.co.za
Anchor tenant
The first phase of an 80 000m2 (GLA) shopping mall complex being developed by Billion Group and Abacus Asset Management in Port Elizabeth has broken ground. Designed by dhk Architects, Bay West Mall is part of a larger multibillion- rand development of some 300ha. The completed development will contain the shopping mall (including more than 250 individual stores), a commercial office block, private schools, a hospital and a residential and leisure component. Paul Krynauw, group director of dhk, says, ‘Our role as architects is to create a design that will blend the retail mall components into the greater project, setting the tone for the future expansion of the Mandela Bay Metropolitan area.’ The shopping mall complex is due for completion in 2013. +27 (0)21 421 6803, dhk.co.za
‘Green building materials, including timber from sustainable resources, will be used to construct Parkhurst Square.’
Phase 3 of Highveld Mall launched Highveld Mall, the only regional shopping centre in eMalahleni (Witbank), is set to expand to more than 60 000m2, on the back of rocketing consumer and tenant demand. ‘Phase Two is already fully let, bringing the entire shopping centre to 100% occupancy,’ says Patrick Flanagan from developers and co-owners, Flanagan & Gerard. The leasing of Phase 3 – another 15 000m2 – is under way. ‘The new expansion will broaden retail choice for consumers and deepen the tenant mix at the mall,’ adds Patrick. Highveld Mall generated turnover of more than R45- million/ month within its first year, a figure that has since grown to over R70- million/month. The mall is co-owned by Resilient Property Income Fund,
Trendy new square for Parkhurst Parkhurst residents can look forward to the development of Parkhurst Square, a 2 000m2 retail and office building on 4th Avenue. Sheldon Bakos, head architect at Integrale Architects, says the development is in keeping with Parkhurst’s upmarket nature. Green building materials – including a lot of timber from sustainable resources – will be used in the construction of Parkhurst Square, and cross ventilation will be maximised to lessen the need for air conditioning. The project is scheduled for completion in November 2011. +27 (0)11 268 3100, integrale.co.za
60 | February 2011
Compiled by Tidi Benbenisti and Andrea Firth
Flanagan & Gerard and Mogwele Trading 278. +27 (0)87 940 3833, fgprop.com
Commercial real estate
Toll-free in Lanseria
Brave new Century
Industrial property developer Jürgen Erhart,
Century 21 South Africa has regained its
from Efcon Capital, believes un-tolled roads
footing after the death of franchise holder
linking Pretoria to Johannesburg, such as
Dr Duncan Gray left the local branch of the
the N14, will offer an increasingly popular
American brand ‘in limbo’. The SA branch’s
alternative to the tolled highways coming
new master franchise licence holder and group
into effect from April 2011, and are likely
CEO, Harry Nicolaides, has reassured existing
to encourage growth in these nodes. The
franchisees that Century 21 Global views
toll- free, double-lane N14 freeway stretches
its presence in SA as crucial to expanding
from Pretoria in the north to Krugersdorp in
the group’s international presence. Century
the west, with off-ramps providing access
21 SA, which was launched in 2006, has been
to Fourways, Randburg, Lanseria and other
recapitalised for further growth and has
Retail revolution
key north- western Gauteng towns. Lanseria Corporate Estate is ideally positioned to
introduced training programmes for agents and franchisees as well as the National Pearl Awards
benefit from this route. The 90ha estate is
RetailLab Property Advisors MD Adam Bravo
for recognising top achievers within the group.
undergoing a R375-million upgrade that will
predicts that new retail developments in previously
The Century 21 real-estate system is comprised
add 5,7km of dual carriageway with double
disadvantaged areas will eventually overtake
of about 8 000 independently owned and
lanes from the N14 to Lanseria International
high- income retail nodes, such as Hyde Park Shopping
operated franchised broker offices in over 73
Airport on the R512 (Malibongwe Drive).
and Sandton City, as the leaders in this sector.
countries and territories worldwide.
Another 1km of double-lane dual carriageway
Citing figures released by the City of Johannesburg
+27 (0)11 455 0066, century21.co.za
will boost the intersecting K33 along the
that show that Soweto residents have combined
Elandsdrift- to- Fourways stretch. There will
annual buying power of R10,5-billion – an estimated
be a bridge taking the new carriageway over
R4,3-billion of which is disposable income – Adam
the N14 and four intersections with traffic
says retailers are ‘missing out on capturing a large
lights. Dennis Sinkonde of Aphane Consulting
amount of disposable income from an ever- increasing
Engineers says, ‘Provision has also been made
number of middle- and high- income earners resident
for dedicated turning lanes at all access roads
in these areas’. The Financial Services Charter is
intersecting the R512 between the N14 highway
providing further incentive by setting targets for the
and Road K31 leading to Lanseria International
funding of projects in these areas. ‘If the growth and
Airport. The main road will be given preference
development strategies between developers and
and additional carriageways will reduce vehicle
retailers are correctly aligned and implemented, these
density by at least half.’ The project is due for
previously disadvantaged areas will represent far
completion in March 2011. lanseriace.co.za
greater returns, over a greater period,’ says Adam. +27 (0)11 786 3635, retaillab.co.za
‘The demand for welltenanted commercial property together with a sound property sector augurs well for 2011.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance
New look for Rosebank complex Owned by Investec and developed by Investec Property, The Firs and Hyatt complex in Rosebank has been refurbished recently to include 8 000m2 of office space and 4 100m2 of retail and restaurant space, in addition to the 244 rooms and 15 suites at the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg. The centre is well positioned to service the many commuters expected to pass through the Rosebank Gautrain station, which opens in March 2011. ‘The redevelopment, particularly the restaurant piazza, provides essential synergies with Rosebank’s pedestrian and street-level interaction, creating a meeting point interlinked with this modern village,’ says Investec Property’s Sam Leon. +27 (0)11 286 7000, investec.co.za
Maponya Mall gets active Virgin Active Gyms and the Maponya Mall Trust have signed a 12-year lease agreement to develop Soweto’s first standalone, state-of-the-art Virgin Active gym. The gym will be developed by Zenprop and designed by Design Line and Empowered Spaces Architects. Due for completion in July 2011, the three- storey, 4 000m2 facility with full-length training pool is expected to dominate the burgeoning fitness market in Soweto. Meanwhile, the four-year-old Maponya Mall has become the dominant shopping centre in Soweto, and is surpassing expectations. The latest trading statistics show that at the end of 2010, footfall was up by 12,66%, turnover growth was up 20% over 2009 figures and the mall’s vacancy rate was just 2,5%. +27 (0)11 938 4448, maponyamall.co.za
February 2011 | 61
REAL ESTATE Auction
The platinum factor
Proudly sponsored by
One of the key successes in the Auction Alliance stable over the past two years has been the growth of its premium property division. Craig Berman, part of the company’s executive team, has been refining a premier Platinum brand within the
AUCTION
FACT
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A fine and rare auction Rudd’s Auctioneers in Cape Town is having its largest sale of antiques and artworks from 8 to 9 February.
Auction Alliance stable for the past
The sale comprises over 600 lots
18 months. His main focus has been on
from the personal collection of
showcasing premium properties, auctioned
the late Cecil and Milly Finneran,
in a multiple-presentation format. Two of his
who established Finn’s Antique
biggest successes include the sale of a home
Corner in Church Street in 1950.
in Arcadia Road, Cape Town, for R40-million,
The collection of local and
and one in Klein Genot for R30-million. ‘My
international pieces includes
vision has been to create this platform by
fine English and Continental
establishing a distinctive service proposition
furniture, fine rare silver,
that will ultimately set the bar for sellers and
nautical paintings by leading
buyers to identify Auction Alliance Platinum
British marine artist William
as a preferred selling and purchasing method,’
Lionel Wyllie, Chinese and
he says. Craig has always been drawn to
Japanese ceramics, clocks
the excitement of the auction industry,
of all descriptions, portrait
and predicts lots of activity for upmarket
miniatures and bronzes, to
properties in the future. ‘When set up
name a few.
correctly and positioned accurately, auctions
+27 (0)21 426 0384, rudds.co.za
are beneficial to both buyer and seller,’ he says. +27 (0)11 430 5555, auction.co.za
‘Several new auctioneers will open shop during the year as they look to the auction industry as a growth area.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance
First art auction for 2011 Stephan Welz & Company’s first Decorative and Fine Arts Auction for 2011 will be held on 22 and 23 February at their auction premises at the Great Cellar at the Alphen Hotel in Constantia. Headlining
Breede River dreaming
this auction is Irma Stern’s 1935 portrait, titled
A Breede River mansion is going under the Auction Alliance hammer on 8 February at Crystal Towers
sale include works by JH Pierneef, Walter Battiss,
Hotel in Century City. No. 4 Barracouta Street is a newly built 650m2 luxury home facing onto the mouth
Pieter Hugo Naudé and Maud Sumner. There is also a
of the Breede River in the coastal town of Witsand. The home offers four spacious bedrooms, three
full complement of decorative arts available, including
bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, walk-in fridge, wine cellar and numerous wrap-around balconies. The
highly desirable collectable pieces of Scandinavian
house also contains a gym, Jacuzzi, indoor lift and underfloor heating, and is built on spacious grounds.
furniture. +27 (0)21 794 6461, swelco.co.za
Zulu Woman, which is scheduled to fetch between R16- million and R20-million. Other highlights of the
‘The property is 40km from Heidelberg on the N2, making it an ideal weekend and holiday escape from
Compiled by Genevieve Fisher
the bustle of the city,’ comments Ish Hendricks of Auction Alliance. +27 (0)21 443 6000, auction.co.za
62 | February 2011
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We’ll get you a real result
If you’re serious about selling then we’re the right people for the job in this market. We offer the simplest and quickest solution to selling high value property anywhere in South Africa. We produce a quick non-suspensive real deal every time. That’s why we’ve been South Africa’s leading auction group for decades. Speak to us about getting you ahead of the game today.
www.auction.co.za | 0861 alliance
REAL ESTATE Property Fund
Better days ahead for hotel owners While many hotels – particularly the
newer ones built in the run-up to the
FINANCIAL
Soccer World Cup – experienced tough
QUOTE:
trading conditions in 2010, listed-hotel
‘The tourism m arke in SA could dou t ble in volume over the next five years. ’
owners are starting to report an uptick in room demand. AltX-listed Quantum Property Group (QPG), owner of the five-star 15 on Orange Hotel in Cape Town (pictured right) and the Park Inn by
– Chaim Cohen
Radisson in Sandton, has seen a dramatic rise in occupancies since October 2010. Executive Chairman Chaim Cohen says he is cautiously optimistic that trading conditions in the South African leisure and tourism market will improve in the year ahead. ‘Indications are that the tourism market in South Africa could double in volume over the next five years,’ he says. ‘The successful Soccer World Cup showcased South Africa’s solid infrastructure, centring South Africa on the global stage and positioning the country as a highly attractive business, conferencing and leisure destination.’
Emira sweating its assets Emira Property Fund continues to pour money into improving the quality of its R8-billion portfolio through selective acquisitions, the disposal of non-core properties and the refurbishment of existing buildings. Management is currently focusing a lot of time, effort and money on the latter. Upgrades to older buildings generally deliver good returns for shareholders, as they enable management to rent out space at significantly higher rentals. Some seven projects, worth R161-million, are already under way, including refurbishments and extensions to Randridge Mall in Johannesburg, the refurbishment of Rigel Office Park in Pretoria, an upgrade to Wesbank House in the Cape Town CBD and extensions to Woolworths at The Market Square Shopping Centre in Plettenberg Bay (pictured below). Emira plans on spending a further R130-million in the next 12
Hyprop propelled into the big league
months on upgrading, among others, Cresta Corner shopping centre (on the corner of Judges Avenue and Beyers Naudé Drive in Randburg). Emira CEO James Templeton says Cresta Corner is in a prime location opposite the Cresta
Plans by shopping centre owner Hyprop Investments to purchase its unlisted
Shopping Centre, but in need of a facelift. James notes that, following the
counterpart, Attfund Retail, for R9-billion will help create more funds that
upgrade, gross rentals for the ground- floor retail space should rise from around
can compete with sector heavyweights Growthpoint Properties and Redefine
R83/m2 to R95/m2,
Properties, in terms of size. Growthpoint’s current market cap of R27,5-billion and Redefine’s R21,1-billion comprise more than a third of the listed-property sector’s total market cap of R125-billion. They are also the only two out of the sector’s 19 counters that have market caps of more than R10-billion. Hyprop is currently in third spot, with its current market cap of R9,3-billion. However, the Attfund deal finalised. Attfund’s portfolio includes Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort, Woodlands Boulevard in Pretoria, Cape Gate Retail Precinct in Cape Town and a 25% share in Centurion Mall. Attfund’s malls are widely regarded as a good fit for Hyprop’s retail portfolio, which includes Canal Walk in Cape Town and Hyde Park Shopping, The Mall of Rosebank and The Glen in Johannesburg. Property analysts have welcomed the tie-up between Hyprop and Attfund, as they generally like the size and liquidity offered by bigger funds. For institutions that tend to invest only in counters worth more than R10-billion, it will offer an attractive alternative to Growthpoint and Redefine. ‘There’s no doubt the Hyprop-Attfund deal will significantly raise the attractiveness of listed property as an asset class,’ says Evan Jankelowitz, director of Sesfikile Capital. Property analysts are also looking forward to the possible listing of Old Mutual’s R12-billion, retail-focused property portfolio by mid-2011.
64 | February 2011
Compiled by Joan Muller, FINWEEK Property Editor
will see Hyprop’s market cap swell to R15-billion by April, once the acquisition is
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real estate Green Building
Green gaining ground
GREEN
South Africa now has three buildings certified as earth-friendly by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). This
fact:
indicates that green building practices are indeed finding fertile ground in this country. ‘We are very excited to have awarded our first Four- Green-Star SA certifications,’ says GBCSA CEO Nicola Milne. ‘We have a large number of applications, and considering the significant task for developers to put together a submission form, the uptake and use of these Green Star Rating Tools shows that the South African property industry is ready to adopt global best practices in green building.’ The first three buildings to be certified are Nedbank Phase 2, in Sandton, Nedbank Ridgeside, in KZN, and The Villa Mall, in Pretoria. The Villa Mall is also the first building to receive
There are curren three Green Sta tly r SA rating tools.
a Four-Green-Star SA Retail Centre Design v1 rating.
‘It’s a huge achievement that South Africa is making such positive inroads in terms of Green Star certification.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance
Rating Africa The goal of creating a Green Building Council African Network is one step closer. Some 20 African states are in full support of the initiative,
Team effort
which was first proposed in May 2010 at the
The importance of green living has made its mark on the country’s students. A team of third-year
kind in Africa, the Green Building Council of
University of Cape Town students have taken top honours at the institution’s 2010 BSG Information
South Africa (GBCSA) has undertaken to assist
Systems Expo for their green-building management system, which they developed for ICT business
in putting together the network and support
incubator, Bandwidth Barn. The innovative system created by team members Kate Dawe, Nick
the implementation of rating tools throughout
Kuilman, Richard Pilkington and David Scheepmaker allows tenants to liaise directly with the building’s
Africa, in partnership with the World Green
administration on complaints and maintenance issues, as well as to book boardrooms and automate
Building Council (WorldGBC). The African
offices to cut down on electricity and provide an electrical analysis. BSG Information Science CEO Greg
countries involved are willing to adopt the rating
Reis says the design impresses him, because it provides tenants with a private, world-class service while
tools of the WorldGBC, but stress that the rating
reducing a building’s carbon footprint.
system must be adapted to each country’s
Green Building Rating Systems Conference in Nairobi. As the only established body of its
unique conditions. With the Green Star Rating System already modified and adapted to South African conditions, the WorldGBC is hopeful of a speedy assimilation of the rating tool throughout the rest of Africa. Bruce Kerswill of the GBCSA indicates several challenges, namely resources, training and financing. However, with support and positive feedback, the network is fast becoming a reality.
eThekwini in a first for SA The Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) of the eThekwini Municipality, in KZN, together with the landowners in the Giba Gorge area (in Hillcrest, just outside of Durban), has launched the Giba Gorge Environmental Precinct. It is said to be the first special rating area (SRA) in the of the area, including the KZN Sandstone Sourveld grasslands (classified as ‘endangered’), the scarp forests (‘vulnerable’), the water sources and the many birds and animals in this ecosystem. Landowners in the area are paying an additional municipal levy towards the management of the area, and the municipality is contributing significantly to ensure the sustainability of the forest. EPCPD Deputy Head Debra Roberts says
Environmental
much of the natural beauty within the municipality has already been lost, giving rise to the need for multiple
Department Deputy Head Debra Roberts, Community
stakeholders to make a joint effort to protect that which remains. The project demonstrates the important role
Leader Mike Lourentz, Councillor Jaco Pienaar
communities can play in protecting and managing their natural heritage, she adds.
66 | February 2011
Planning
and
Climate
Protection
Compiled by Andrea Firth
country to be used for environmental management purposes. The project will help protect the biodiversity
Offshore real estate
Urban action The completion of Rihan Heights, five luxurious residential towers that make up Phase 1 of the Arzanah project in Abu Dhabi, is a major milestone for its strategic planner and developer, Capitala. The 1 400 000m2 development encompasses residential, retail, commercial, sports and leisure components. The project is now officially on schedule to be completed in 2011. Rihan Heights is situated on the north-eastern corner of Arzanah, on 3,8ha of prime land. The five towers vary in height from 20 to 32 storeys and include 854 apartments and 14 villas. The buildings, which are surrounded by lush landscaped gardens and parklands, offer a range of recreational features, including a children’s playground, a gym and
offshore
fact: Arzan
ah is a US$6-billion development.
fitness suite and a clubhouse, and are protected by high- tech security and management systems. Centrally located in the Grand Mosque district, Arzanah is fundamental to Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, an urban-planning framework that aims to provide a sustainable foundation for the emirate’s growth. For its part, Capitala promises to deliver to Arzanah’s residents ‘the ultimate active
urban lifestyle’. +971 2 412 1111, capitala.ae
Mediterranean marvel Set on 110ha in the coastal town of Paphos, Cyprus, Neapolis is more than a property development – it’s an entirely new city. Neapolis Smart EcoCity will provide an integrated, healthy, smart lifestyle. The developers, Leptos Group, have set themselves the ambitious goal of creating ‘the most innovative, smart eco-city in the Mediterranean that will set standards of
‘A strong rand coupled with substantial foreign
allowance allocations opens a window of opportunity for offshore investments.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance
excellence in health care, education, research, business parks and planned green living, with an integrated blend of lifestyle, retail, entertainment and culture’. In October last year Phase 1 broke ground and the foundation stone was laid, making Neapolis the only European city currently being developed with infrastructure based on a single intelligent platform capable of accommodating green-living technology, the latest digital applications and sustainable design. With the Cyprian culture being so focused on family and good living, it is no surprise that Neapolis will contain expansive, green urban parks and themed neighbourhoods to encourage community- building. It will also have a state-of-the-art health park and hospital and an English- language university alongside the residential and commercial offerings. Michael Leptos, founder and chairman of the Leptos Group, says that with the renewed and growing interest in clean-tech and eco- friendly ventures, Neapolis Smart EcoCity is a diversified investment opportunity for any property buyer. +357 26 880 601, neapolis.com
Country charmers on the cheap Owning a home in the English countryside has never been more accessible to South Africans, says Lanice Steward, MD of Cape-based firm, Anne Porter
Compiled by Genevieve Fisher and Andrea Firth
Properties. ‘With the rand at its current levels and our UK associates, Knight Frank, reporting that UK manor houses have dropped in price by 1,3%, farmhouses by 0,6% and country cottages by 0,8% in the last quarter – with further drops to come – now is a good time to buy a lovely UK country house, if you are in that asset bracket,’ Lanice says. The more rural the property and the farther away it is from urban hubs – particularly from London – the more reasonable prices become. And if you buy in Scotland, Cornwall or Wales, you will possibly pay only 25% more than you would for a three-bedroom home in South Africa’s Constantia, Kloof or Sandton areas. Currently on Knight Frank’s books are a manor house at Poole Keynes, Gloucestershire, priced at £2,5-million, an 18th-century farmhouse (The Malthouse), in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, priced at £1,26-million and a historic, renovated thatched cottage in Newton Abbot, Devon, priced at £475 000. +27 (0)21 671 9120, anneporter.co.za
February 2011 | 67
society
Society
The city’s stylish set came out to play at these high-profile events.
2
1
3
4
5 6 8
9
10
Cirque du Vic premier: 1John Beveridg, Amra Naiker 2Kim Coppen, Graeme Watkins, Steve Hofmeyr, Suné Meyer 3Kerishnie Naiker, Sonia Booth. Stellenbosch at Summer Place: 4Etienne de Swardt, Annie Malan, Rika Bothma 5Lindani Mnyandu, Nkqubela Bam 6Ken Forrester, Annareth Bolton, Daniel Kriel. Park Inn Sandton showcase: 7Nomthandazo Madiya, Cecelia Zungu, Tshepo Monama, Nthuthu Mabongo 8Eirik Bergvoll, Manuela Evans, Maarten van den Nieuwenhuijsen 9Fanie Meintjes, Johan Groenewald, Marinda Botha, Maarten van den Nieuwenhuijsen, Yugashnee Naidoo, Nikki Grundlingh 10Natelie Moodley, Flavian Nyathi, Joseph Moumakoe.
To see who else we’ve featured in our Society pages, visit thepropertymag.co.za. Email social photographs for consideration to socials@medianova.co.za.
68 | February 2011
Compiled by Genevieve Fisher
7
LUXURY WIN
WIN
Prize valued at over R45 000!
Chic city
ESCAPE PROPERTY IS GIVING YOU AND ONE GUEST THE CHANCE TO WIN A THREE-NIGHT STAY IN A TWO-BEDROOM SUITE AT CORAL INTERNATIONAL CAPE TOWN. WORTH OVER R45 000, THIS STUNNING PRIZE INCLUDES FLIGHTS, TRANSFERS AND MEALS*.
W
ith its white beaches, sunshine and countless entertainment options, Cape Town is the playground of South Africa’s well-to-do and modish. And when in the Mother City, where better to stay than at the new chic and sophisticated five-star Coral International Cape Town hotel? Dramatically located in the historic suburb of Bo-Kaap at the foot of Table Mountain, Coral International Cape Town exudes understated luxury and style. From the oversized high-back chairs at Al Nafoora restaurant and the black grand piano contrasting with the light marble floor to the black and white wallpaper with just a hint of gold, the decor is simply beautiful. The elegant, plush interiors and excellent facilities are topped with the very best of everything, including personalised service and breathtaking views. The rooms and suites are generously proportioned and provide a relaxed ambience, and with amenities such as 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton linen being provided, you’re guaranteed the best sleep in the city. Facilities include a fitness centre and salon, a Mercedes or Bentley for airport transfers as well as valet, childminding and butler services on request. There is something to satisfy every sense, from sight to sound, touch, smell and, above all, taste. The hotel’s mouthwatering cuisine ranges from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern to authentic North Indian prepared and served in the traditional manner in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Mezbaan. Al Nafoora offers all-day dining in an outdoor area on
tree-lined Buitengracht Street, while the Al Zaeem Shisha Lounge and Restaurant recreates the tradition of Middle Eastern meze and shisha. And don’t forget to satisfy your sweet tooth at Patchi Boutique Chocolatier, which is situated within the hotel. +27 (0)21 481 3700, coral-capetown.com *Prize includes: • Domestic flights from Johannesburg or Durban • Airport transfers • Breakfast daily • Two dinners valued at R500 each (one dinner at the hotel’s signature Mezbaan Indian Restaurant and one dinner at the hotel’s Al Nafoora all-day dining restaurant or Al Zaeem, including shisha) • VIP treatment (including a welcome hamper and Patchi Boutique Chocolatier hamper). To stand a chance of winning, tell us the name of one of the three restaurants at Coral International Cape Town. Email your answer to readers@thepropertymag.co.za, quoting ‘Coral International’ in the subject line.
*The competition closes on 28 February 2011. The prize is valid for six months, excluding peak seasons and school holidays, and is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.
February 2011 | 69
Morningside
R35 Million
Dunkeld
R12.5 Million
Contemporary living has a new address. Urban revolution of exceptional quality. Located in this top security complex close to Sandton’s CBD, is an exceptional residence. Designed by leading Architect Keith Maison with superb proportions and the very best finishes of the 21st century. A must to see for those looking for the most amazing home.
Looking to the future! Urban sophistication is taking full advantage of the latest in green technology. Meticulously planned and masterfully realized by architect Enrico Daffonchio, a unique opportunity to own a landmark modernist masterpiece in one of the best streets in Dunkeld. An exceptional modular living concept home, with extraordinary light and space.
Andrew Berbick 082 084 9431, Office 011 380 0000
Kimberly Dods 082 601 2099, Office 011 380 0000
WEB ACCESS HP451359
WEB ACCESS HP516925
Benmore Gardens
R12 Million
Bryanston
R12.95 Million
A touch of the French Riveira - with views for Africa! This beautiful home offers a lifestyle one seldom has the chance to experience. Well-proportioned receptions open to elegant entertainer’s patio, heated pool and garden. Private guest suite, master bedroom with fireplace, secluded balcony, executive study, dressing room and beautiful en suite bathroom. 2 Further north-facing bedrooms ( en suite ).
Each room is large, spacious and furnished with a view to entertaining. 3 Receptions onto patio overlooking manicured garden and pool. Drawing room with bar and all with fold-back doors onto patio. The kitchen has a scullery, hidden appliances and breakfast area. Upstairs 4 large bedrooms all en suite and cinema. Large gym. Study. Staff accommodation. Triple garages.
Marion Dean 082 800 7168 , Lesley Gray 082 554 9589, Office 011 380 0000
Dominic Courtney 083 626 6355, Clare McNeil 072 863 5417, Office 011 380 0000
WEB ACCESS HP441023
WEB ACCESS HP518645
Waterkloof
R8 Million
Blair Atholl
R24 Million
This gracious 4 bedroom mansion in a dignified Waterkloof setting is perfect for the person wanting opulence and style. Expansive living areas and elegant finishes exude an unpretentious elegance. Of course there is a study, bar, sparkling pool, double staff accommodation, 5-car garage and separate guest cottage.
The original Blair Atholl family home. Newly renovated with a flair that is rarely seen. Rolling lawns lead to a picturesque lake with magnificent oaks and beautifully landscaped garden.The main house has 4 receptions, wine cellar, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 garages, sauna and steamroom, tack room and state-of-the-art kitchen. 2 Well appointed self-contained cottages.
Pieter Erasmus 082 718 3000, Office 012 365 9000
Sue Mace 082 892 8772, Brenda Gilbert 083 251 4452, Office 011 469 4691
WEB ACCESS PT529984
WEB ACCESS DNF495023
Norscot Slopes
R3.5 Million
Bedfordview
R7.5 Million
Immaculate, luxurious double-storey home. 3 Spacious bedrooms and guest suite. His-and-hers study. Designer kitchen overlooks open-plan lounge and dining room leading onto covered patio and wooden decked swimming pool. Beautiful manicured garden. Staff accommodation, double garages as well asstoreroom perfect this incredible Fourways home.
Offering 6 versatile bedrooms and 4 complementary bathrooms. 5 Reception rooms to welcome the discerning guest, games room, combined theatre room, cellar and fitted bar. The receptions open onto a resort-type lawn, accompanied by floodlit tennis court, sparkling swimming pool and multi-level patios. Ample parking with 4 garages, staff accommodation and great work-from-home opportunity.
Alistair Dempster 083 603 4063 , Nikki Dempster 079 692 1092, Office 011 380 0000
Gerald Latrè 083 447 1148, Roger Lotz 083 680 7716, Office 011 455 6666
WEB ACCESS FW535219
WEB ACCESS BV542941
PEARL VALLEY
R3.3 Million
LUXURY GOLF ESTATE LODGE Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 3
Carports 2
Stunning lock-up-and-go lodge on this Jack Nickluas golf estate, offering 3 en-suite bedrooms with balconies and views across the lake. Close to the driving range and club house for relaxed living. Estate offers gym, pool and equestrian facilities etc.
[O] 021 876 4592
PETER WAGENAAR 082 553 3396 WEB 225 518
FRANSCHHOEK R4.35 Million COTTAGE ON DOUBLE PLOT
Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 Garage 1
Stunning 1500m² double plot with a beautiful sunny landscaped garden, pool and views. The delightful 3 bedroom cottage offers double volume entertainment with a gas fireplace and airconditioning - a very characterful property. [O] 021 876 4592 JEANINE ALLEN 082 410 6837 WEB 202 038
DURBANVILLE
R11.95 Million EQUESTRIAN JEWEL
Stunning lifestyle and business opportunity on this magnificent 4.45ha smallholding with a loveley manor house & 6 well furnished guest cottages with a 4 star rating + conference facility. 50 Stables, indoor training facilities and lunging arenas for the equine enthusiast. ED MORGAN BEN SAAIMAN
071 241 6026 084 569 3166 WEB 223 356
FRANSCHHOEK
R21.5 Million
LUXURY LIFESTYLE SMALL HOLDING Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5
A rare opportunity to acquire an acclaimed designer’s property nestled on the banks of the river. Offering a beautiful 630m² Main villa with a separate 2 bedroom cottage set amongst the vines, plus a 303m² income earning Conservatory venue for weddings & functions [O] 021 876 4592 JEANINE ALLEN 082 410 6837 WEB 219 859
Gracious Country Estate on Auction
Effem Hall, located in the Greater Kyalami Conservancy (GEKCO) is the closest you get to the countryside in the city. This stately Chateau which has been approved as a 16 room guesthouse features 5 bedrooms all en suite, ball room, bar, auditorium, day room, formal lounge, family room, dining room, 2 studies, 4 garages, pool, separate 1 bedroom apartment and separate 2 bedroom apartment being used as staff quarters. The property also features breathtaking sculptured gardens.
Wednesday 16 February @ 12h00, The Hilton Hotel, Rivonia Road Renee Varejes 082 7777 082 | rvarejes@auction.co.za www.auction.co.za | 0861 alliance
Creative and intelligent marketing of individual and country property
... 600 offices globally
H A M I LT O N ’ S P R O P E R T Y
P O R T F O L I O
BRYANSTON
asking R14 m’s
Seldom do homes of this caliber come onto the market. Set a desirable boomed location, in Bryanston East, this magnificent French-inspired Villa is a tribute to architectural excellent and reflects casual chic living and tasteful refinement. Cloistered towers of natural stone and distressed plasterwork – beautiful feature courtyards and breezeways, stucco, marble and solid rosewood finishes grace this truly magnificent home comprising: Volumed entrance, social country kitchen, expansive covered patio. French fireplaces, study, 5 Beautiful bedroom suites, main of indulgent proportions, including fully independent guest suite, 6 travertine bathrooms with free-standing baths. 5 Oversized receptions with central fire-place, and home cinema, all opening to formal rose-gardens extending the full acre with feature pool. Double staff suites and garaging for Central vacuum and features too numerous to mention - A home of true distinction! To view call Sole Agent Regan: 082 320 6464 or Christie 082 676 4699.
Web ref: 168499
BRYANSTON
late R6 m’s
Situated within exclusive Villa Torino on the Bryanston Country Club, this spacious cluster home has it all. From the welcoming entrance, 3 gracious and volumed receptions open to the entertainer’s covered patio overlooking manicured and generous gardens and feature pool. Gourmet eat-in country kitchen, 4 double bedrooms, all with marble en-suite bathrooms, downstairs study/5th bedroom guest suite, double garage and lux staff. Immaculate condition throughout, walkways, atriums, fountains, marble vanities and baths. For the discerning buyer…
To view call Sole Agent Liz Murphy: 082 554 6524, Pauline Cribb: 082 573 6322 or Aniki Buys: 082 456 3778.
Web ref: 21113
BRYANSTON
offers from R9.95 m
Web ref: 9275
BRYANSTON
R7.99 m BRYANSTON
Web ref: 21110
A newly completed luxuriously appointed contemporary home set within a secure boomed enclave in Bryanston East - one of Bryanston’s most convenient, yet peaceful locations. From the volumed entrance, 4 spacious receptions flow to an enormous covered patio overlooking feature pool and an acre of manicured park-like gardens. Dbl volumed formal dining room, Gourmet, eat-in kitchen, playroom / Billiard Room/ gym, executive study, 5 double, airconditioned bedroom suites, garaging for 4, double staff. Water features, expansive cantilevered balconies, excellent security. This exquisite home has got it all! Asking R10.85m To view call Sole Agents Pauline Cribb: 082 573 6322, Aniki Buys: 082 456 3778 or Liz Murphy: 082 554 6524.
Set in an exquisite Estate of stately Georgian homes, this magnificent abode is elevated to capture stunning Westerly views. From the volume entrance with stunning wooden floors, 3 sizeable receptions flow to the entertainer's covered patio overlooking award gardens and feature pool. Gourmet country kitchen with top appliances opens to vast family room. 5 Indulgent bedroom suites, pyjama lounge and panelled study. Double garaging and lux staff. Features incl: American shutters, auto roller doors, generator, Woodhouse kitchen, wine server. A stunning home in top location! To view call Sole Agent Regan: 082 320 6464 or Christie: 082 676 4699.
R4.75 m
Web ref: 12701 An exquisite cluster home, within a secure and quiet enclave, in Bryanston East, offering quality accommodation and spaciousness. From the volumed entrance, enormous entertainer’s patio opens to indigenous garden, ample lawnscapes with mature trees and feature pool. 3 Stunning receptions and cellar, gourmet social kitchen. 4 Bedrooms all en-suite, study and pyjama lounge. Lux staff and garaging for Generator, sandstone accents, water features are yet a few of the features of this stunning home. To view call Sole Agent Christie: 082 676 4699 or Regan: 082 320 6464.
W W W . H A M I L T O N S . C O . Z A
AREA NAME R0 000 SEA POINT / Cape Town R16 900 000 +000 VAT
AREA NAME / Cape Town R15 R0 000 000 ORANJEZICHT
THE
COLLECTION
www.remax.co.za AREA NAME / Cape Town HIGGOVALE
R0 000 000 R8 R0750 000000 000
LIVING IN HIGGOVALE … SENSATIONAL!
The ultimate executive lock-up-and-go. Created for comfort and HEADING Immaculate and ready to move in. 3 Beds, all en suite. entertainment. Lorem ipsum sit amet, consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Private pool, dolor excellent security. im tempor ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exertion dolore amet, consectetur Petra Davidan 082 490 6329et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. sed tempor incididunt ut labore RE/MAX Living 021 422 3976 Web ref: MP 376364 Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number Web ref: 123456
HISTORIC MOTHER CITY AREA NAME
R4 550 000 R0 000 000
EXECUTIVE LIVING ON GREENMARKET SQUARE
3-Bedroom penthouse over 2 floors. Open-plan living area leading to N-facing terrace. Views of city and bay from Devil’s Peak to Robben Island. 2 Parking bays. 24-Hour security.
HEADING
GET BUSY LIVING – INCOME PRODUCING, HEADING MAGNIFICENT HOUSE sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Lorem ipsum dolor GUEST sit amet, consectetur
IRREPLACEABLE COLLECTOR’S ITEM HEADING
Perfectly the Atlantic seaboard. 6-Bedroom suitesconsectetur + block of im temporsituated ad minimonveniam, quis nostrud exertion dolore amet, 8 separate Secure parking bays.dolor Garden setting + pool. sed temporapartments. incididunt ut17 labore et magna ipsum sit amsit adipiscing.
Large ipsum Edwardian Lavishly and luxuriously appointed. Lorem dolor manor sit amet,house. consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Offers ambassadorial reception room, various + pool. A home im tempor ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exertionlounges dolore amet, consectetur full of charmincididunt & character. sed tempor ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing.
Associate & contact no 6992 Hannelorename Harms 082 337 RE/MAX number RE/MAXOffice Livingname 021 &422 3976
Hannelorename Harms 082 337 Associate & contact no 6992 RE/MAXOffice Livingname 021 &422 3976 RE/MAX number
HIGGOVALE AREA NAME / Cape Town
WebMP ref:252593 123456 Web ref:
R7 R0 900 000 000 000
BRAND-NEW HIGGOVALE
Urban oasis. Modern 4-bed en-suite cluster home. Leafy garden with HEADING pool. Double volume, generous proportions. Table Mountain, City & Bay Loremfrom ipsumprivate dolor sit amet, consectetur sitdouble adipisicing elit, sed do access. eiusmod views Jacuzzi! Roof terrace, garage, direct im tempor ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exertion dolore amet, consectetur Petra Davidan 082 490 6329et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. sed tempor incididunt ut labore RE/MAX Living 021-422 3976 Web ref: MP 147366 Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number Web ref: 123456
SEA POINT / Cape Town
AREA NAME
R1 795 000
R0 000 000
ENDLESS VIEWS FOR AN ENDLESS HOLIDAY
Stylish apartment in small exclusive block on Ocean View Drive. 2 Bedrooms, main en-suite, 2nd full bathroom. Open balcony with magnificent sea views. Lock-up garage with direct access.
HEADING
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, Wolfgang Wunderlich 083consectetur 484 6143 sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod im temporLiving ad minim quis nostrud exertion dolore consectetur RE/MAX 021veniam, 422 3976 Web amet, ref: MP 375697 sed tempor incididunt ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Martin Freedman 082 356consectetur 6280 im temporLiving ad minim quis nostrud exertion doloreWeb amet,ref: consectetur RE/MAX 021veniam, 422 3976 404236 sed tempor incididunt ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing.
Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number
Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number
Living
Web ref: 123456
www.remax.co.za |
Web ref: WebMP ref:161506 123456
AREA NAME SOMERSET WEST / Cape Town R0 R8000 000 000
MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY ESTATE LIVING
This charming property offers tranquillity & style for the discerning HEADING buyer looking for something unique and private on ±10 000m². Tennis Lorem pool, ipsumguest dolorcottage. sit amet,Subdivision consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod court, possible. Excellent investment. im tempor ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exertion dolore amet, consectetur Gerlinde 082ut569 4644 sed temporMoser incididunt labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. RE/MAX Living 021 422 3976 Web ref: MP 395795 Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number Web ref: 123456
GREEN POINT / Cape Town R995 000 R0 000 000 AREA NAME
IDEAL LOCK UP AND GO
Top floor in quiet location, this 1-bedroom apartment is an ideal investment. Secure + pool in complex.
HEADING
LoremMarcus ipsum dolor amet, consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Cindi 082 sit 290 3211 im temporLiving ad minim quis nostrud exertion dolore amet,MP consectetur RE/MAX 021veniam, 422 3976 Web ref: 410510 sed tempor incididunt ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing.
Associate name & contact no Bowl 422ref:3976 RE/MAX OfficeCity name & numberand Atlantic: 021 Web 123456 www.remaxliving.co.za | Each Office Independently Owned and Operated Web ref: 123456
FOR OVER 50 000 PROPERTY LISTINGS VISIT Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
www.remax.co.za
DIRECTORY
Residential Accommodation in the Northern Suburbs Auditing / Accounting / Tax / Trusts Specialists / Secretarial / Shelf Companies
A MEDIUM-SIZED FIRM FOR OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES
¡ Short and long term furnished rentals ¡Unfurnished rentals ¡Residential Sales
BUYING A HOUSE FOR MORE THAN R7 MIL.? BUYING AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY?
YOU NEED: A TRUST CALL MAGDA – TEL: 011 253 7424 Block A, The Bank, 318 Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia, Email: magda@lsgintegrated.co.za www.lsgintegrated.co.za
THE PREMIER ASSET-PROTECTION CONSULTANTS
cell: 082 071 5601¡telephone 011 513 3590 offices: The Business Centre, Design Quarter, Leslie Drive, Fourways email: deanne@indigo7.co.za¡www.indigo7.co.za
To advertise in this space, please contact Mavashini Naidoo on 0861 765 833 or email mavashini@medianova.co.za.
The Bull Run Restaurant is famed for its prime cuts of exquisite South African beef – served via it’s own in-house butchery – and an extensive selection of the ďŹ nest Cape wines. Situated near popular nightspots in the upmarket suburb of Sandton, the energy and vibe of the Bull Run caters for any occasion – be it a business lunch, dinner before a night on the town, or a corporate function.
Tel: 011 914 3651 www.quantumline.co.za
Opposite the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Adjacent to the Protea Hotel Balalaika Sandton 20 Maude Street, Sandton
Tel + 27 (0)11 884 - 1400 | E-mail info@thebullrun.co.za Group Bookings reservations@thebullrun.co.za
5)& '*/&45 #&% "/% #"5) -*/&/ */ 5)& 803-% ."%& */ *5"-:
The Wish Collection - Exclusive Stockists
Shop 1 Lower Level Illovo Square Shopping Centre, Sandton Tel: 011 447 4495 Fax: 011 447 4844 Cell: 082 850 5439
Frette Bed and Bath linen Corneliani mens wear Baccarat crystal Books, Candles and Chocolates Ladies and mens grooming products Ettinger leather accessories
designer floors & timber decks Tel: 011 466 0701
www.forestflooring.co.za “Installations Nationwide�
TREND WATCH
The final touch
Looking for that showstopping decor piece that will transform any room in your house? We’ve rounded up four local design and interior aficionados to give us their pick of the hottest home accessories. TREVYN MCGOWAN, SOURCE INTERIORS ‘Reuben Ngwenya Glassware, available from Boardmans, is one of the most exciting projects I have worked on, and the mixture of heart, soul and collaboration makes it a really special range. It is made from 100% recycled glass and hand made by master craftsmen. Besides being beautiful, sophisticated pieces, 5% of the sales go to a schoolchildren’s feeding scheme. The items in this range would work just as well in the dining room, kitchen or patio as they would in the bedroom!’ +27 (0)44 877 0719, source-sa.com
ADAM COURT, OKHA DESIGN & INTERIORS ‘The Black Rain Mirror is so much more than a mirror; it crosses the line between design and art. In its look it is both discordant and harmonious, because it is irregular and asymmetric and therefore has a provocative split personality that’s simultaneously dark and humorous. What I love about the Black Rain Mirror is that it stimulates and provokes a reaction; the viewer engages with the mirror in a multitude of ways. I would position it in a key focal area of a room, with plenty of space around it. Because of the scale of the piece, its drama and intensity, it needs space!’ +27 (0)21 419 7003, okha.co.za
MICHELE THROSSELL, MICHELE THROSSELL INTERIORS & AGENCIES ‘At the moment, my key decor accessory is the Tolomeo light. Its design is timeless and adds an exciting edge to any type of decor theme, whether it’s traditional or contemporary. The most obvious place to put the lamp is over a work desk or perched by a bed, but I think it also works well for intimate lighting in a small dining space.’ +27 (0)32 946 0590, michelethrossell.co.za
DAWN DICKERSON, HOTCOCOA INTERIORS & DESIGN ‘A coffee table that my partner Carmel Naudé and I recently designed adds a give an added dimension to any lounge and allow you to adorn it in different ways with books, magazines, flowers and other objects. With its rich, reflective surface, it can be glamorous and sexy in a modern setting, and it also looks great in a natural, organic interior, as the glass provides a perfect foil to natural, rough finishes. What’s more, the glass can be coloured to match any interior.’ +27 (0)21 424 0444, hotcocoa.co.za
80 | February 2011
Words Genevieve Fisher
sophisticated final touch to a living room. We love the stepped levels, which
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web: www.klight.co.za • e-mail: info@klight.co.za
KL_PropMag 280x340 - Feb11.indd 1
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